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Questionable investment from Eastern and Central Europe in high level football in Western Europe
Doc. 10077
11 February 2004
Motion for a resolution
presented by Mr Reimann and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it
1. Given the economic disparities between Western Europe and the new democracies of Eastern Europe, questions are being asked over the apparently unlimited flow of funds from Eastern and South Eastern Europe into high level football in Western Europe. Examples include the football clubs of Chelsea (UK), Santander (Spain) and Wil/St Gall (Switzerland).
2. These questions concern both the sources of the funding and the effect on the sport in question. Might it lead to a form of “slavery” for professional football?
3. Without meaning to undermine the place of professional football in the free market economy, the Parliamentary Assembly is invited to analyse the reasons and the background of this phenomenon and to address in particular the following issues:
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how decisions are taken in the countries from which the investments come (Russia, Ukraine, etc.) to allow the outflow of such capital into high risk areas in the west;
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the legality of the sources of such funding and the motives behind it;
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the impact of such funding on the ethics of the sport and clubs involved.
Signed
[1]:
Reimann, Switzerland, LDR
Elo, Finland, SOC
E�rsi, Hungary, LDR
Gross, Switzerland, SOC
Jakic, Slovenia, LDR
Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR
Jonas, Germany, SOC
Magnusson, Sweden, SOC
Maissen, Switzerland, EPP
Milotinova, Bulgaria, LDR
Randegger, Switzerland, LDR
Ransdorf, Czech Republic, UEL
Rigoni, Italy, EPP
Schreiner, France, EPP
Stamm, Switzerland, NR
Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP
Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP
Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP
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SOC |
Socialist Group |