In all likelihood, footballers will earn less due to the integration to EU

Zdroj: Denník Pravda (Michal Zeman)

Sport associations and clubs are not ready for the entry into the European Union in 50 days. This is the statement of Jozef Tokos that is one of few specialized in sport issues of the law.

“From 1st May, all norms will have to be in accordance with the European law,” reminds Tokos. “Also for football, hockey and other sectors, there is the principle of free movement of employees applied. It means that for example, football clubs can recruit any number of players from the European Union countries and nobody can restrict them.”

There is still the Slovakian rule defined by the football association setting the maximum of four foreigners. This barrier will be removed. Will there be any exception?

Tokos’s opinion is outright: “It is clear: nothing can be done about it and associations have to adapt quickly. Otherwise, they will lose every possible lawsuit. The case of Bosman proves the issue and the European Union solved this problem in December 1995.“

The restriction will remain only for players who do not come from the EU, e.g. Russians, Brazilians or at present, Africans as well. Of course, this is true only supposing the Slovak Republic takes no countermeasures against countries that decided to restrict the labour market temporarily. In that case, five Italian or Dutch players could not start playing for the Slovak team, but the same number of English players could play without any problems. However, this is the utopia, because players from prominent countries will not come to Slovakia even in the next season.

“The countermeasure will not be for sure applied against other accessing countries. If a club wants to hire more than four players – e.g. from the Czech Republic or Hungary – from the next transfer window, it will be absolutely allowed to do so,” explained Tokos. The market is getting open also towards abroad, but there is the question, whether clubs from the foreign countries will be interested in the Slovak players. It is especially a low quality that makes the problem. Most of Slovak players play in Czech clubs. It is possible that once there will be a Czech team consisting of Slovak players only. Liberec is approaching this situation most since there are,besides the coach Stanislav Griga, five Slovak players in the team… The EU accession in May will cause other important changes. Football players (but also hockey players or professionals of other team sports) will become the club’s employees. „This should be already applied at present, but since there is still no law on sports dealing with relationships, temporary status is tolerated,“ reminds Tokos. “After the entry, players should sign employment agreements. Those will protect players against for example, not getting their salaries, which is common practice nowadays. Some exceptions – in comparison to other employees – will remain: mainly in relation to holidays, employment relation terminations or working hours.“ So from the next season, financial requirements will increase since clubs will start paying social security payments for employees. “They have to start behave rationally, meaning that they can do only what they can afford to do.” According to Tokos, there are two possibilities. Clubs will increase cost calculations, though they have problems with current ones. More real possibility is that clubs will decrease salary or the number of professionals. Maybe even amateurs or half professionals will start playing in the league.