European sports, and especially football, "are an inalienable part of the European identity and citizenship". Ivo Belet, Belgian MEP, drew up one of the two reports that will be discussed tomorrow by the European Parliament, gathered in Brussels until Thursday. The document gives "social" relevance to football, but also admits "joint efforts must be done by the football regulatory bodies and by the political authorities to fight some of its negative developments", such as the "excessive commodification and unfair competition that ensue from it". According to Belet’s report submitted to the MEPs, the future of professional football "is threatened by the increasing concentration of wealth and power". Hence the invitation to the member states, to the football authorities and to the Commission that is drawing up a White Paper in Sports to "face the need for corrective measures, while bearing in mind the recommendations contained in the Independent Assessment of European Sports 2006". Another legislative report to be discussed by the floor concerns the fight against hooliganism.
