The Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) was represented at the just ended Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballers Professionnels Legal Conference in the Netherlands by celebrated Ghanaian sports journalist and GSP1 boss, Thomas Boakye-Agyemang.
Representatives of all professional players in the world were present at the conference, which ended on Thursday, March 16.
“We are represented at the ongoing @FIFPRO Legal Conference in the Netherlands.
“Thomas Boakye-Agyeman has been participating in the Conference which among other things are discussing Latest CAS Jurisprudence in football matters. Amendments to the FIFA Disciplinary and Ethics Code, Compensation Clauses, Abuse in Football, etc,” the PFAG confirmed on their Twitter handle.
The FIFPRO Legal Conference was held at FIFPRO House in Hoofddorp, Netherlands on 15-16 March where some of football’s legal minds gathered to discuss a broad range of issues impacting today’s game.
The conference hosted a plethora of discussions on relevant legal topics affecting FIFPRO members – from collective bargaining agreements and maternity regulations to the latest FIFA Disciplinary and Ethics Code and FIFA football agent regulations.
“The FIFPRO Legal Conference allows us to update everyone on ongoing issues relevant for union legal counsels, both on a domestic and international level, and to hear about the problems in different countries,” said FIFPRO Legal Director Roy Vermeer.
“What adds real value to this event is the number of industry experts providing specialist analysis on a wide range of topics affecting today’s players. I would like to thank all speakers and attendees for their time over the last two days.”
Individual player cases under the spotlight
Several ground-breaking player cases were in focus at the FIFPRO Legal Conference, such as that of Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir. In May 2022, the Icelandic midfielder became the first player to win a claim against a club through the FIFA Maternity Regulations.
The regulations, which were introduced in January 2021 following the initiative of FIFPRO, entitled Bjork Gunnarsdottir – now at Juventus – to full payment throughout her pregnancy and until the start of her maternity leave when at former club Olympique Lyonnais.
Bjork Gunnarsdottir’s case showed that all players, even those at high-profile clubs, need protection. It also demonstrated how important it is to regulate minimums and not leave them to the goodwill of the parties.
FIFPRO provided legal support to Bjork Gunnarsdottir – from explaining her rights to representing her before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.
In addition, the case of Leandro Padovani was also highlighted at the FIFPRO Legal Conference.
In 2018 the Brazilian player plunged headfirst onto the turf after colliding with an Esteghlal team-mate during an Iranian league match. Esteghlal medical staff had the player removed on a stretcher, without immobilizing his head and neck. He was later diagnosed with a spinal injury and is now tetraplegic.
Padovani filed a claim at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for negligent first-aid treatment. FIFPRO supported the claim and considers the case to be a landmark for advancing player rights.
