Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-01-Speech-3-167"
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"en.20041201.16.3-167"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, although I realise that this problem pales somewhat before what has been discussed here in this House this afternoon, I do think that developments in the area of football also have major social implications. I am delighted that, despite the late hour, it is still possible to have this debate today.
You will agree with me that the future of football hinges upon our youth training. If that deteriorates or falls by the wayside, it undermines the game itself. That seems to be a spectre that prophets of doom confront us with, but regrettably, that scenario is far closer than the average football fan could ever imagine. Commissioner, the situation is serious. It is no longer the case that youth players can play up in higher divisions, because their places are increasingly being filled by often cheaper players from outside the European Union or even from within it. This leads to bizarre situations, such the Belgian first division club SK Beveren usually fielding eleven Africans in Belgium’s top football league.
This situation has a pernicious effect on our football’s social function. After all, you will agree with me that football is an excellent instrument for social integration and against social exclusion. I particularly regret that it is precisely this function of football that is currently being undermined in different European competitions, not only in the Belgian ones, but also elsewhere in Europe. That is particularly regrettable in this day and age. This development is also detrimental to the scope for expansion in competitions, but perhaps we will hear more about this during the debate.
A number of concrete proposals have been tabled to turn the tide and call an end to this development. One of the proposals provides for a regulation which prescribes that clubs must play a minimum number of players who have been trained by their own clubs or in the competitions in which their clubs are involved. I believe that such a measure would give the clubs an enormous boost in terms of the effect they have on young people. Moreover, from a moral point of view, it would be preferable to invest far more in the training side of clubs than in buying players and trading them as pure commodities.
Hence my specific question to the Commissioner whether he approves of this proposal. Commissioner, do you also agree that it is desirable that the government – and I mean both the national and European authorities – should help invest in youth activities and in clubs’ sports facilities? Finally, Commissioner, would you agree that it is necessary to uphold the social fabric of football?"@en1
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