EU warns FIFA deal is unlikely without Union consent

“I would find it hard to accept a solution without the consent of one of the parties,” said EU Commissioner Viviane Reding on Monday during a meeting of the 15 European Union Sports ministers.

“We hope however that a deal with FIFPro can be found,” she added.The 15 ministers agreed that, whatever happened, the current transfer system would have to change, since it is not compatible with social and competition laws in the EU.

The Commission objects to the fact that clubs can still demand huge transfer fees for players when under contract, limiting the freedom of professionals to seek new employment.

The Commission had long set a December 31 deadline to conclude negotiations, but Reding said no hasty decisions should be taken.

The EU nations also held out a helping hand to international sporting federations, agreeing on a declaration “taking into account the specificity of sport,” which should be approved by a summit of EU leaders in Nice on December 8 and 9.

Such a summit “declaration” however still stops far short of a change in the EU treaty, which federations are seeking in hopes of getting special legal exemptions to protect them from purely economic interests.

The declaration would call for “the preservation of the cohesion and solidarity linking all levels of Sports.” France has said “specificity” could apply even to top clubs and rich federations if they seek to redistribute their riches properly.

EU officials said the Commission was not impressed with the FIFA transfer proposals that were put to them last week.

Officials warned that the Commission will be unable toaccept a ban on international transfers for under-18 players, arguing that the viability of an organisation – not the distance of the club – should be the determining issue.