GSW 2022: "The sports governance system needs to be massively overhauled" (J. Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPro)

"If you look broadly at sports, the governance system needs to be massively overhauled. I understand the discussion about the European sports model and its values, and they're genuinely valuable to protect, but the governance and the democratic system behind it is flawed," said Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, general secretary at FIFPro, during Global Sports Week 2022, which is being held at the Accor Arena in Paris (FRA) from 09 to 13/05/2022.

"I think it's quite similar to other representative institutions in our society, whether it's political parties, or whether it's religious institutions, all those who are meant to advocate on behalf of a group of people. But they'd like the democratic structures to actually engage with them," continued Baer-Hoffmann.

"I think the turning point that we're in, and my biggest criticism of this European sports model, is that it actually forgets the pillars of the EU, which are a strong fair labour market, democracy, the right to to justice and the access to remedy and they're oftentimes missing from the governance system of sport. I think that's the turning…