Young basketball player scores at EU Petitions Committee

A young player who was denied release from his contract with Luxol Basketball Club is finally able to pursue his studies abroad after an EU infringement threat.

The European Parliament last week closed a petition filed by the player. Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, a member of the EP’s Petitions Committee, agreed this should happen after the case was successfully resolved.

On deciding to pursue higher education at Brunel University, UK, the minor asked to be released from his contract and transferred. Denying his request, the club summoned the minor to return to Malta to play for the club.

Having failed to successfully appeal his case with the Maltese Basketball Association, presided over by Magistrate Antonio Mizzi, the minor’s father filed a petition at the EP arguing his son’s right to freedom of association had been breached. He also protested against Luxol’s attempts to obtain money for his son’s release.

In its reply, the European Commission said “a refusal to release an amateur athlete or payment of penalties to obtain an athlete’s release may be an obstacle to the free movement of citizens and infringe EU law”.

A settlement was subsequently reached between the club and the petitioner after the Commission threatened to take the matter to court. The young player is now playing with the Brunel University team.

Welcoming the positive outcome, Dr Busuttil said the case was crystal clear from the start and it was futile for Maltese clubs to seek to restrain the free movement of individuals in this manner.

He expressed satisfaction that, by filing a complaint with the Petitions Committee, the citizen concerned had obtained a remedy for his grievance. “This is Europe at work. And this proves it really works for the citizens,” Dr Busuttil said.

Maltese citizens have one of the highest rates of complaints with the Petitions Committee.