News

Tony Irish – CEO, South African Cricketers Association.



"In South Africa we live in a new democracy where workers' rights are strongly recognized in law and society. This obviously has to apply to all of our professional athletes and it’s the primary role of a players’ union to ensure that they do. Players' unions are coming together across the world to also ensure that these rights apply globally and we are very happy to be part of that."

Jose Luis Llorente - Presidente, Asociacion Baloncestistas Profesionales



"We call on world sport organizations and governments to respect the fundamental rights of athletes as citizens and workers.

It's about time to give back the sport to athletes. The athletes trade unions are the only representative voice of sports people and must be involved in the decision making process at the global level."

Mads Øland - Board Member, FIFPro.



"It is absolutely crucial that athletes across the world are recognised as workers and secured proper conditions to work under. Having athletes organise and reaching collective bargaining agreements are pivotal to accomplishing this goal."

Ian Smith - Federation of International Cricketers' Associations



"The players are the product. This is a truism for every professional sport and it's comforting because, whatever the current shortcomings in the governance of sport (and there are many), the players will be there long after the men who run things now are gone. All we, as the democratically elected representatives of the players, need is integrity and patience and the principles enshrined in the Nyon Declaration will become a self-evident reality to every stakeholder in sport."

Damian Hopley - Chairman, International Rugby Players’ Association



Independent Player Associations in rugby union have become best practice for rugby players to collectively work in partnership with governing bodies to represent, develop and support the players’ holistic needs. These partnerships have resulted in greater accountability, enhanced transparency around decision-making and more effective high performance environments.”

Dave Kiefer - NBA Players Association



"Professional athletes’ rights as workers, an in particular athletes’ right to organize collectively as members of player associations, must be recognized regardless of where an athlete works. Independent and democratically elected player associations ensure that athletes can have their voices heard at the local, national and global levels on issues that impact them in the workplace."

Jeff Reymond - General Secretary, European Elite Athletes Association



"EU Athletes strongly encourage sport organizations to engage in social dialogue. It will an important step forward for the status of athletes in Europe and highlights that article 11 of the European convention on Human Rights about the freedom of association – in this case in a trade union."

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Erik Zachrisson - Swedish Ice Hockey Players Union (SICO)



“Swedish ice hockey players believe their voice should be heard and their rights looked after at the world level since they compete around the globe. It´s a right that every athlete should have and it´s time for all players' unions to be accepted at all levels in all sports and countries to develop the sport movement. “