Thierry Henry: European citizen
(EMPICS)
Europe and football
The English Premiership is a good example of what the EU has
to offer. Under European law, footballers are free to move between
countries, and satellite companies can bid for TV rights and broadcast
across borders. This has helped create a Premiership full of top-quality
European players, watched by millions. Before the Maastricht Treaty
abolished restrictions on working abroad, this would have been
a distant dream.
But there are drawbacks. British players have been kept out of
their own teams by Europeans arriving in search of higher wages.
And not all of the players coming in have been up to Thierry Henry’s
standard. Henry himself is the composite European citizen: a world
star from Paris who speaks perfect English and is now an Arsenal
player through and through.
The other drawback is the racism that has surfaced in the sport
– particularly in Spain and Central Europe. Just like football,
the EU rests on co-operation and shared respect. Both the EU and
European football bodies have moved to stamp out discrimination
– and not always with total success. |
