PASP Reacts to Withdrawal of Youth Transfer Law Amendment

The Cyprus Footballers’ Association (PASP) has expressed surprise at being informed by the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA), following an official letter, that the amendment concerning the modification of the KOA Law on the Transfer of Child Athletes in Sport will be withdrawn from legal-technical review at this stage and instead reconsidered as part of the forthcoming Unified Sports Legislation. KOA stated in its letter that this decision was communicated to them by the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth.

In a recent letter signed by PASP Executive President Spyros Neophytides, and addressed to the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture, the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, the Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth, and KOA, he describes the decision as “scandalous and unacceptable.” He points out that it has now been three years since the Commissioner for Children’s Rights issued her position (3 January 2022), following numerous complaints about the exploitation, targeting, and psychological abuse of underage athletes due to illegal regulations by sports federations. These regulations allegedly bind underage children to clubs and restrict their freedom of movement.

In his letter, Mr Neophytides reiterates the Commissioner’s stance, which calls for legislative reform, citing the following key issues:

• Multiple violations of children’s rights.

• The current system prevents all children from participating in sport.

• There are serious issues with the athlete registration system in Cyprus.

• KOA itself has not regulated the registration and transfer system for children.

• A misguided perception persists in sport that children should be treated the same as adult athletes, without considering their minor status and distinct needs.

• There is a serious legal vacuum concerning how clubs and federations operate. The excessive binding of child athletes to a club and the refusal to grant transfers is entirely incompatible with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• Excluding children from sport is a direct violation of Article 31 of the UN Convention.

Additionally, the letter criticises the binding of children from a very young age, often arbitrarily. It also points out that there are arbitrary conditions and oversight gaps in how KOA supervises clubs and federations.

Mr Neophytides further refers to the Commissioner’s guidance on:

• The qualifications of individuals working with children in sport.

• The standards that KOA’s sports facilities must meet.

• The procedures that should safeguard the rights of children, including their right to participate.

He stresses that the excuse of a Unified Sports Law being drafted at some unspecified future date cannot be used to block this crucial legislative amendment, which would safeguard the rights of children in sport.

“These rights are being violated daily,” Mr Neophytides emphasises, “as the refusal to grant transfers is completely contrary to the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and does not serve the best interests of the children.”

He also questions:

“How many more children must be harmed before some people understand that the necessary legal changes should have been made five years ago, not now?”

In closing, he urges the authorities to proceed with the legal-technical review and implement the legislation, stating:
“Too many children have already been sacrificed. Too many have been lost to sport.”