MEP pleased by court's support for sports broadcasters
Posted,2/3/2012 6:00:00 PM
Conservative sports spokesman in the European Parliament, Emma McClarkin MEP, has welcomed the ruling of a High Court judge which will allow the Premier League and satellite broadcasters to enforce their screening rights to live games.Last autumn, the European Court of Justice ruled on whether it is within EU law for establishments such as pubs in one EU country to transmit Premier League football matches using the decoder card from another EU country, where the cost of the broadcast will be significantly cheaper. It followed the case of a UK pub owner who acquired a Greek decoder to show UK football matches broadcast on Greek TV.The court ruled that national legislation banning the use of overseas decoders was not justified. However, it added that surrounding media - such as anthems, graphics and pre-recorded films - could be protected by copyright. It is the latter point that is prominent in the UK High Court's interpretation.
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"EU flag on sports shirts" report adopted by parliament amid angry scenes
Posted,2/2/2012 2:00:00 PM
An EU report calling on national sports teams to wear the EU flag on their shirts received its final backing from the European Parliament today - with the support of Socialist and Liberal MEPs.
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MEPs vote through "EU-flag" sports report
Posted,11/10/2011 3:00:00 PM
Conservative MEPs have voiced concerns over a report, approved in Brussels today (Th), which seeks to interfere with the way professional sport is run in member states. The report, titled A European Dimension in Sport, includes a raft of proposals for creating a European framework of sports regulations. Conservatives say they are all better organised at a national level. It was approved today by the European Parliament's Culture and Education Committee with only two votes against, both from MEPs in the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. The report's most controversial proposal involves putting the EU flag on the shirts of national teams - so that England's footballers, for example, would sport the Stars of Europe emblem alongside the three lions. Although the demands of this clause have been diluted during committee discussions, it still says sports federations should consider displaying the EU symbol on athlete's clothing . Member states thankfully would be allowed to make the final decision - but the report nevertheless calls for the EU flag to be flown at all major sports events. Emma McClarkin MEP, Conservative spokesman on culture, education and sport in the European Parliament, said: " In the UK we are immensely proud of our national teams. The European flag means nothing to our fans and we do not want it anywhere near our teams' shirts. Nor do we want it flying over Wembley, Lord's or Wimbledon." "Much of this report attempts to set out European rules or standards for things we already do perfectly well in the UK. They should let us get on with enjoying our sport and stop trying to tell us how to run it." The report seeks to ban non-EU agents from operating - a move which would hit many sports, especially football, cricket and rugby. Other major proposals in the report include a call on national governments to make trafficking of performance-enhancing drugs illegal, the creation of a European database of hooligans and the creation of a specific tax framework for sport But Emma McClarkin said: "The first of these undermines existing national law, the second duplicates what is already done by Europol and the third interferes in taxation which must always remain a national issue. "This report does nothing to promote sport; it only seeks to control it."
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MEP McClarkin: Premier League promotion and relegation must stay
Posted,10/18/2011 5:00:00 PM
Suggestions that The Premier League football should operate a franchise system - bringing an end to promotion and relegation from the top flight - have provoked an angry response from Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin.
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McClarkin condemns schools propaganda plan
Posted,9/28/2011 1:00:00 PM
Conservative MEPs spoke out today against a European Commission plan which they fear will lead to schoolchildren being force-fed pro-Brussels propaganda.
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