(15/06/2016)
Written Declaration on homophobia, racism and discrimination in sports
1. Sport is a valuable tool to help address societal challenges, such as the fight against verbal and physical violence and discriminatory behaviours. Violence, homophobia, racism and other forms of victimisation and intolerance in the context of sport have to be addressed by the UE.
2. The case of the referee Jesús Tomillero, recently reported in Spain is not an isolated incident. It is in fact a sad reminder that homophobia in sport, either between athletes or directed at them by others, is omnipresent – but rarely reported.
3. Sport should transcend differences and enable everyone to strive towards achieving their best, regardless of nationality, gender, or sexual orientation.
4. The Treaty of Lisbon introduced a horizontal clause that obliges the Union to combat discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in all contexts.
5. The European Commission is therefore invited to:
– Encourage the Member States to permanently include sport in programmes and services for a real integration of all groups at risk of discrimination and calls on sport organisations to adopt appropriate training programmes for professionals and volunteers to prevent and fight against any form of discrimination or racism;
-Calls on the Council, the Commission, the Member States and national governing sports bodies to commit to tackling all types of discrimination including, racism, gender or homophobia and transphobia and to implement legislation and anti-discrimination policies especially for lesbian, bi-sexual, gay and transgender athletes properly;
– Calls upon Member States to prohibit access to stadium to fans who have displayed violent or discriminatory behaviour. Suggests a European register of those banned from stadiums to be created.
6. This declaration, together with the names of the signatories, is forwarded to the Council and the Commission.