MEPs pass motion with 552 votes in favor, targeting corruption risks, excessive commercialization and foreign ownership influence while advocating for stronger social protections and revenue redistribution between elite and grassroots sports.
The European Parliament has called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen the European Sport Model, adopting a resolution that urges improved governance, financial integrity and athlete protection across all levels of sport. The motion, passed on Oct. 7 with 552 votes in favor, forms part of the Parliament’s contribution to the European Commission’s upcoming long-term sports and physical activity strategy.
MEPs want international and national federations, clubs and leagues to improve transparency and accountability while including athletes, fans and people with disabilities in decision-making processes. The report also highlights the continued underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and calls for corrective measures.
EU Parliament sees European sports system at risk
Parliamentarians identified growing risks to the European sports system, including corruption, match-fixing, excessive commercialization and the increasing influence of foreign ownership and multi-club structures, which they say threaten financial integrity and competitive balance. MEPs also oppose the organization of domestic league matches abroad and insist that clubs must release athletes for national team duties.
The resolution further advocates for stronger social protections for athletes, particularly minors, and calls for mechanisms to redistribute revenue between elite and grassroots sports. Citing the contribution of sport – representing 2.12 percent of EU GDP and nearly six million jobs – MEPs urged the Commission to expand Erasmus+ funding to better support community-level participation.
“This report is a call to action,” said rapporteur Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, stressing that the timing is crucial as the Commission prepares its long-term strategy for European sport in 2026.
