AA18CR05ADD1

AS (2018) CR 05
Addendum 1

2018 ORDINARY SESSION

________________________

(First part)

REPORT

Fifth sitting

Wednesday, 24 January 2018 at 10 a.m.

Joint debate:

Working towards a framework for modern sports governance
Good football governance

The following texts were submitted for inclusion in the official report by members who were present in the Chamber but were prevented by lack of time from delivering them.

Ms OHLSSON (Sweden) – I thank Anne Brasseur and Mogens Jensen, for two excellent and useful reports. I will use the reports both in my role as politician and as president of a local football club: LFK, Lidköpings Fotbollsklubb.

We often discuss these questions, affirming that there must be more to football than scoring goals and winning matches and titles. Football is all about integration, gender equality, social inclusion, democracy, fair play, public health, how to act as parents, trainers and supporters, leadership and so on. And I agree with the report’s conclusion: sport in general and football in particular, as the most popular and universal sport, must be based on values such as fair play, respect and tolerance. To convey these values to players and fans, the leading bodies at local, national and international levels need to set a good example and display irreproachable behaviour, which unfortunately is far from being the case now.

The following questions must be discussed and answered: How can all minors be included? When and at what age should they begin to compete? How do the conditions for girls and women compare with those for boys and men? What are the possibilities for educating trainers to become good leaders? How can we stop hooligans and violence among supporters? That is the same macho culture as when we talk about men’s violence towards women? As football is global, how can it be used as a tool for integration?