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EU Commission criticizes FIFA transfer proposal |
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September 2, 2000
BRUSSELS, SEPT 1 (AP) - The European Commission on Friday criticized a key part of the FIFA-UEFA proposals to reform the soccer transfer system but stressed the world and European federations were finally heading in the right direction. The European Union's executive Commission is investigating complaints that the transfer system is illegal, prompting FIFA and UEFA to make new proposals Thursday, including the scrapping of transfer fees for over-24 players. "FIFA is willing to find a solution," said Commission spokesman Christophe Forax. "We are really optimistic." But the Commission criticized a key part of the plan - to ban international transfers for players under 18. It would limit young players to clubs within their own country, and seemingly in breach of the EU principle of free movement of workers within the 15 member nations. "There are some principles on which we cannot yield," said Forax. "It is a bad answer to a good question," he said, noting FIFA had proposed the measure to protect young players from abuse. He said the problem could be circumvented by issuing minimum standards for clubs on schooling and training facilities for youngsters. Forax also soothed concerns of the soccer community that the European Union was about to issue a unilateral measure which would turn the whole transfer system topsy-turvy overnight. "There is no ultimatum," he said, adding there was still time for negotiations. During Thursday's meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, a new joint FIFA-UEFA working party offered the concession to abolish transfer fees for players over 24 years old. The current transfer system requires a club buying a player to pay compensation to the club surrendering its player. A soccer player may leave his club at any time as long as the fee is paid. |