The idea of Europe in football
The article explores the Europeanisation of football, focusing on two dimensions of this process: its affective and regulatory dimension. Developments such as the creation of pan-European club competitions and growing cross-border movement of players mean that ‘Europe’ plays an ever more important r...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Law Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2752613522000157/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156397056851968 |
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| author | Floris de Witte Jan Zglinski |
| author_facet | Floris de Witte Jan Zglinski |
| author_sort | Floris de Witte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The article explores the Europeanisation of football, focusing on two dimensions of this process: its affective and regulatory dimension. Developments such as the creation of pan-European club competitions and growing cross-border movement of players mean that ‘Europe’ plays an ever more important role in football on an affective level. The same is true on a regulatory level, where EU law and policy have come to impact on various aspects of football, ranging from transfer rules, to club financing, to the sale of broadcasting rights. We argue that only by examining the interaction between these two dimensions can we truly understand what is ‘European’ about football. The article shows that there continues to be strong support in football for the cultural elements of the European Sport Model, including a commitment to local identity, sporting merit and solidarity. By contrast, its governance aspects are increasingly coming under pressure, as the recent European Super League saga illustrates. Our findings suggest that the EU can – and should – do more to improve regulatory standards in football and push for a greater representation of fans and other stakeholders that have currently no, or limited, voice in the football pyramid. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:50:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca261b254131405482edb3b15a7af83f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2752-6135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:50:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Law Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca261b254131405482edb3b15a7af83f2023-03-09T12:32:20ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Law Open2752-61352022-06-01128631510.1017/elo.2022.15The idea of Europe in footballFloris de Witte0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8068-7110Jan Zglinski1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5653-9254School of Law, London School of Economics, London, UKSchool of Law, London School of Economics, London, UKThe article explores the Europeanisation of football, focusing on two dimensions of this process: its affective and regulatory dimension. Developments such as the creation of pan-European club competitions and growing cross-border movement of players mean that ‘Europe’ plays an ever more important role in football on an affective level. The same is true on a regulatory level, where EU law and policy have come to impact on various aspects of football, ranging from transfer rules, to club financing, to the sale of broadcasting rights. We argue that only by examining the interaction between these two dimensions can we truly understand what is ‘European’ about football. The article shows that there continues to be strong support in football for the cultural elements of the European Sport Model, including a commitment to local identity, sporting merit and solidarity. By contrast, its governance aspects are increasingly coming under pressure, as the recent European Super League saga illustrates. Our findings suggest that the EU can – and should – do more to improve regulatory standards in football and push for a greater representation of fans and other stakeholders that have currently no, or limited, voice in the football pyramid.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2752613522000157/type/journal_articlefootballEuropean Super LeagueEU lawEuropeanisationEuropean model of sport |
| spellingShingle | Floris de Witte Jan Zglinski The idea of Europe in football European Law Open football European Super League EU law Europeanisation European model of sport |
| title | The idea of Europe in football |
| title_full | The idea of Europe in football |
| title_fullStr | The idea of Europe in football |
| title_full_unstemmed | The idea of Europe in football |
| title_short | The idea of Europe in football |
| title_sort | idea of europe in football |
| topic | football European Super League EU law Europeanisation European model of sport |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2752613522000157/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT florisdewitte theideaofeuropeinfootball AT janzglinski theideaofeuropeinfootball AT florisdewitte ideaofeuropeinfootball AT janzglinski ideaofeuropeinfootball |