HOOFDDORP (Netherlands), Nov 10: Separate unions for black players would not make sense and would make it more difficult to stand up for the rights of footballers, the world players’ union FIFPro said on Friday.

Secretary General Theo van Seggelen said that FIFPro, which represents 60,000 players worldwide through national affiliates and holds regular talks with UEFA, FIFA and the European Commission, would not be able to exist if black players formed their own unions.

There has been talk in England of a breakaway movement by black footballers to fight racism and the lack of inclusiveness after several said they were unhappy with the steps currently being taken.

England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is a FIFPro member.

“If you have to protect the rights of 60,000 professional players, you cannot make a difference between a black player or a white player, or a Muslim or a Catholic, or a rich player or a poor player,” Van Seggelen said.

“We said when we started rebuilding FIFPro in 1992, we agreed that we would have a global organisation.

“For us every player is equal. We respect the player in the English third division, as much as the player in China, as well as the player from Congo.

“It doesn’t make sense to have unions for black players,” he added. “If that is the case there is no reason to have FIFPro.

“We can only represent the players worldwide when we everyone accepts that every player is equal. I am 100 per cent against.

“Our philosophy is equal rights for players and on a global level that is not easy.”—Reuters