MEPs demand hooligans’ database

MEPs have called on the EU to ask that violent 'supporters' or whoever engages in discriminatory behaviour be banned from all European stadiums.

The MEPs passed a non-legislative resolution with 550 votes in favour, 73 against and 7 abstentions, that calls for a European database to enable national authorities to ensure the ban applies to any international matches played on their territory.

MEPs also called on member states and sports governing bodies to commit to tackling homophobia and racism against athletes.

The fight against doping, violence in stadiums, match-fixing and shady deals by players' agents were all tackled in a resolution that call for better coordinated action at EU level.

"The Lisbon Treaty's entry into force brought about a revolution in sport by creating the first legal basis for this area, Article 165", said rapporteur Santiago Fisas Ayxela (EPP, ES), in the debate preceding the vote.

MEPs called on the EU to identify and eliminate all obstacles likely to prevent girls and women from doing sports. They underlined that "parents' prohibiting immigrant girls from taking part in sports and swimming at school cannot be tolerated or excused on cultural or religious grounds". Better representation of women in sports governing bodies - in proportion to the number of qualified women - could help to promote female participation in sport, they add.

To protect athletes better, MEPs suggested that trafficking in illegal performance-enhancing substances should be treated in the same way as trafficking in illegal drugs. To combat match-fixing, money laundering and illegal betting, MEPs asked that any fraudulent activity be treated as a criminal offence and that a licensing system be put in place for betting operators.

MEPs also asked that the profession of sports agent should be regulated and subject to a proper official qualification. "Agents should have their fiscal residence within the EU and undertake to abide by a code of conduct in order to obtain a licence."

The resolution proposes setting up a European register of agents, which would also list the players for whom they work.

Agents' fees for transfers should be paid in instalments throughout the duration of the players' contract, rather than as a lump sum at the time of the transfer, MEPs added.