Governing bodies have learnt nothing, say FIFPRO and G14

Football's governing bodies have learnt nothing in the 10 years since the Bosman ruling, according to two of the game's leading representative bodies.

The G14, which represents 18 of Europe's richest clubs and FIFPRO, which represents professional players worldwide, are both stinging in their attack of FIFA, football's world governing body and UEFA which governs the game in Europe.

The G14 and FIFPRO accused football's ruling bodies of acting above the law in the wake of the Bosman ruling in 1995 which revolutionised the game's transfer system.

"The problem with Bosman was that football was not ready for the decision," Thomas Kurth, General Secretary of the G14 told Reuters in an interview .

"The laws were there at the time before Bosman, but they chose to abuse the law."

His sentiments were echoed by FIFPRO Secretary General, Theo Van Seggelen. "They come and listen and even talk to us sometimes, but they still go ahead and make their decisions on their own," Van Seggelen said. "They act as if they are above the law."

The FIFPRO chief was speaking ahead of a conference held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the Bosman ruling, when the European Court of Justice banned transfer fees for players out of contract and removed the limit on the number of foreign players clubs could field.

"We are still trying to deal with the problems that Bosman brought," Van Seggelen said. "First of all clubs tried to sign players on a long term basis and then couldn't sell them and the second idea of buying cheaper players from outside Europe didn't work either."

Both organisations are involved in two court cases being brought against FIFA in Belgium and France in relation to compensation for injuries sustained while on international duty.

These cases are being dubbed as Bosman Two in some circles. Belgian first division club Charleroi had Abdelmajid Oulmers return injured from an international friendly match for Morocco last year.

Top-flight French club Lyon saw defender Eric Abidal crack a bone in his foot during France's 3-2 friendly win over Costa Rica last month.

The clubs have been joined in their action by the G14. They claim FIFA's rules, which stipulate clubs must release players, violate European laws of competition.

"It is an abuse of a dominant position by a governing body," Kurth, who was in charge of European competitions at UEFA at the time of the Bosman case, said.

Tough negotiations

"The rules state that players have to be made available for zero price. We think the rules should be changed as a result of negotiation between the national teams, the clubs and the national federations."

But these negotiations have been difficult to say the least. Last week a meeting of football's stakeholders organised by the British Presidency of the EU nearly failed to materialise after FIFA president Sepp Blatter threatened to pull out.

Blatter was unhappy that Dave Richards, chairman of the Association of European Leagues was to attend. Richards later pulled out to allow Blatter to attend.

"This is so unprofessional, but typical of FIFA," Van Seggelen said.

"We need a collective bargaining agreement between all sides, especially between players and clubs."

The former head of the Dutch players' union pointed out that the European Commission has been working with them in this area and said the EU institution "must be allowed to do their job without exception".

"If FIFA and UEFA fail to accept this, then more and more Charleroi and Lyon cases will happen and football will be taken out of their hands anyway."