- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 25 June 2026 (25th sitting) (see Doc. 16415, report
of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, rapporteur:
Ms Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen). Text adopted by the Assembly on
25 June 2026 (25th sitting).See also Recommendation 2308 (2026). Provisional
version subject to editorial review.
1. Sports journalism
performs an essential democratic function by informing the public,
ensuring transparency and contributing to accountability in sports
governance. Freedom of expression and freedom of information, as
guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights
(ETS No. 5), therefore apply fully to sport and to sports journalism.
2. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to the relevant Council
of Europe framework in this area, in particular:
2.1 the
Revised
European Sports Charter, which recognises the importance of co-operation among the
various stakeholders in sport and affirms that the integrity of
sport rests, in particular, on the principles of transparency, accountability
and good governance. These principles create an environment conducive
to the work of the media and independent journalism, which play
an essential role in promoting transparency and accountability in
sport;
2.4 Recommendation
CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection
of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors,
complemented by the more recent Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 of
the Committee of Ministers to member States on countering the use
of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), addressing
legal harassment against public interest reporting; as well as the
work of the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety
of journalists, which continues to document threats, intimidation
and restrictions affecting journalists across Europe, including
in sports reporting;
2.5 the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, which
confirms the strong public interest in investigative sports journalism
and the risks to freedom of expression when journalists face disproportionate
sanctions or pressure.
4. Sport has become a global and highly commercialised sector
with significant economic, social and political influence, which
increases the importance of independent media scrutiny while also
intensifying structural pressures linked to the concentration of
media rights, commercial interests and control over access to information.
5. The profound transformation of the media environment, driven
by digitalisation, the growing role of digital platforms and economic
change, has weakened traditional journalism models and reduced the
resources available for investigative reporting, including in sport,
while sports journalism remains highly dependent on access to events,
athletes and institutions.
6. In the context of upcoming major sporting events such as the
2026 FIFA World Cup, media and policy discussions have already highlighted
potential challenges related to increasingly restrictive accreditation systems,
the growing control of content by rights holders, and the complexity
of ensuring consistent media access across multiple host countries.
These developments illustrate broader structural trends which may further
affect the ability of journalists to report freely and independently
across a range of major competitions and high-profile international
events.
7. The Assembly is deeply concerned about restrictions on journalistic
access, contractual limitations, intimidation, harassment, legal
pressure and structural inequalities within sports media, including
the particular challenges faced by women in sports journalism. Sexual
harassment, threats and intimidation create a chilling effect that
undermines participation in the profession and reinforces persistent
gender inequalities in sports media, including the under-representation
of women in investigative sports reporting and the unequal visibility of
women’s sport. Public investment in sport creates a legitimate expectation
of transparency, accountability and openness to independent media
scrutiny.
8. In light of these considerations, the Assembly calls on Council
of Europe member States to ensure that freedom of expression and
freedom of information are effectively guaranteed in sport, including
by:
8.1 guaranteeing practical,
fair and non-discriminatory access for journalists to sporting events, athletes
and relevant institutions;
8.2 reviewing legal and regulatory frameworks on broadcasting
rights, accreditation systems and contractual arrangements so that
they do not disproportionately restrict journalistic activity or
the public’s right to information;
8.3 strengthening whistleblower protection mechanisms in sport,
including secure reporting channels and effective protection against
retaliation;
8.4 supporting investigative journalism in sport through appropriate
public interest funding mechanisms and safeguards against undue
commercial or political interference;
8.5 ensuring that sports organisations benefiting from public
funding comply with minimum standards of transparency, accountability
and media access, including fair accreditation procedures;
8.6 taking effective measures to prevent and address intimidation,
harassment and violence against sports journalists, both online
and offline;
8.7 promoting gender equality in sports media, including by
addressing structural barriers, ensuring equal opportunities and
combating discrimination and harassment;
8.8 improving the collection of data on gender representation
and diversity in sports journalism to support evidence-based policy
making.
9. Furthermore, the Assembly urges sports organisations, federations
and event organisers to recognise media freedom as a core element
of good governance in sport and to ensure that journalists can operate independently
and without undue interference, including by:
9.1 ensuring that host countries of major sporting events
fully respect media freedom and facilitate the work of journalists,
including by avoiding unnecessarily restrictive, burdensome or disproportionately costly
visa and accreditation procedures that may impede access for independent
journalists and hinder investigative reporting during international
sporting events;
9.2 guaranteeing access to sporting events, venues, athletes
and information on a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory basis;
9.3 ensuring that accreditation systems are not used to control
editorial content or restrict legitimate reporting;
9.4 avoiding contractual arrangements that undermine editorial
independence or impose disproportionate restrictions on the use
of information gathered in the public interest;
9.5 facilitating access for investigative journalists, including
on issues of governance, integrity and accountability;
9.6 refraining from practices that limit critical reporting
or treat journalistic work as a form of controlled communication
output.
10. The Assembly also calls on media organisations and journalism
stakeholders to safeguard editorial independence in sports reporting
and to contribute actively to a pluralistic media environment, including
by:
10.1 resisting commercial or
institutional pressures that may affect journalistic integrity;
10.2 investing in investigative sports journalism as a key
contribution to transparency and accountability in sport;
10.3 promoting diversity and inclusion within newsrooms, including
balanced representation in editorial and leadership positions;
10.4 developing ethical standards for the use of artificial
intelligence in sports journalism, ensuring transparency, accountability
and human oversight.
11. Furthermore, the Assembly recalls the principle of the specificity
of sport, as recognised in European Union law, which reflects the
unique social, cultural and democratic role of sport in European
society. While acknowledging the autonomy and special status granted
to sports organisations, the Assembly stresses that these principles
must not be used to shield such organisations from public scrutiny
and accountability. As European governments continue to promote
media freedom and protect investigative journalism as fundamental
democratic values, there is a legitimate expectation that these
standards should also be respected and upheld internationally within
global sports governance.
12. Finally, the Assembly supports continued reflection on initiatives
by non-governmental organisations and human rights defenders, which
may contribute to improving transparency and access to reliable
governance information in sport, in complementarity with Council
of Europe standards.
13. Safeguarding media freedom in sport requires sustained co-operation
between public authorities, sports organisations, media actors and
civil society to ensure both the autonomy of sport and its democratic accountability.
