The Supreme Court Weighs In
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) in their appeal against the National Court’s decision. This ruling was in relation to a compensation claim of 60,000 euros to Futpro, the majority union of women’s professional football. The case centered around the ‘End of Career’ initiative, which aims to guarantee equal benefits at the end of a sports career.
The Supreme Court’s decision deems the AFE’s actions “totally lawful,” stating that any union has the right to establish benefits exclusively for its affiliates using its own funds. This is without infringing on the freedom of union of any other organization that chooses not to do so, as reported by AFE in a statement. Essentially, this means that unions like AFE can decide how to allocate their resources to support their members without legal repercussions from other unions.
A Look Back
In October 2022, the Social Court of the National Court initially ruled that AFE must pay 60,000 euros in compensation to Futpro. The reasoning behind this was that AFE’s ‘End of Career’ initiative allegedly violated the fundamental rights to freedom of association and non-discrimination due to sex of those affiliated with Futpro. By demanding affiliation to access financial aid, AFE was seen as discriminating against members of other unions.
Understanding the ‘End of Career’ Initiative
The ‘End of Career’ program provides economic benefits to players of the Professional League upon the end of their sports career, in cases of permanent disability, or death. This initiative is designed to support players during significant life transitions, ensuring they have financial stability. The Supreme Court’s ruling supports the AFE’s right to manage such initiatives for its members, marking a significant point in the discussion about union rights and benefits in Spanish football.