Welcome to Finland. The Football Players Association of Finland

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1 Welcome to Finland The Football Players Association of Finland

2 Welcome to Finland The Football Players Association of Finland (JPY) would firstly like to welcome you to Finland. Established since 1992 the JPY has worked to improve the playing and working conditions of all the players within Finland. Our dedicated team of representatives who are ex-professionals or still playing themselves are there to help and answer your questions or concerns. If this is your first visit to Finland let s give you some basic information. In European terms, Finland is rather a large country. Its surface area is 338,127 km 2. The population is small however, about 5,400,000. Most people live in the southern part of the country, while very few live in the north. The population of Helsinki, the capital, is some 590,000. In total, some 1 million people live in the large cities of the Helsinki metropolitan area. The neighbouring countries of Finland are Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia. Finland has four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn. There are great variations in the weather in various parts of the country. The main languages are Finnish and Swedish and the Euro is now the common currency. In this Brochure you will find information on the services the union provides for its members.there is so much more that we could tell you, but we will leave that up to your new club and team mates to make you feel at home. But If you do need a little advice and help please read on to the next pages where we tell you what we can do for you. David Moore David Moore has played a long career in Finland. He has represented Premiership teams and lower level teams. BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FINLAND

3 Football Players association of Finland The goal of the Football Players Association of Finland is to stand for the interests of football players in all possible ways and to improve the conditions for all football players. JPY has existed since 1992 and has 1,600 members. They are all playing football in Veikkausliiga, Ykkönen and Kakkonen, (men s League, Division I and DivisionII) also Naisten liiga and Ykkönen. (Women s league and Division I) Markus Juhola Executive Manager of JPY. Markus Juhola, toiminnanjohtaja Each year as we promote the many service s that the JPY provide s we hope to bring in new members to add to our total. Suomen Pallolitto (Finnish football federation) and JPY agreed an obligatory Standard Player Contract for all players playing in Veikkausliiga, Ykkönen, Kakkonen as well as Naisten Liiga and Ykkönen. The players representatives play a vital part of the JPY. They not only deliver essential information to the players in there team but make the JPY aware of any questions or concerns the players might have. This quick contact between our members and ourselves mean they get the help they need instantly. You can find a player representative in each team. For the services that the JPY provide there is a membership fee. All membership fees are tax deductable in Finland. You can join the JPY by either going to our web page and filling in the application or by printing it and posting it to our office. >> FPA OF FINLAND

4 INSURANCE COVER Every club is obligated to provide each player earning EUR and above per year with reasonable security for their old age, cover against disability that causes them to stop playing football and death caused by accident in sports. The accident cover includes a pension which is payable after the age of 65 onwards, disability benefi t which is 85 % of the players salary and is paid up to five years after the accident. Also included in the disability benefi t is reimbursement of medical treatment, rehabilitation, education to learn a new profession, permanent general handicap payment and in case of death a contribution towards funeral expenses and family pension security. The cover includes accidents during games, training and transportation of the player. FUNDING OF SALARIES According to finnish law, athletes earning over EUR during a year, are allowed to move aside 50 % of there yearly salary (max. 100,000 EUR), to a separate fund without paying taxes. They can withdraw it after 2 to 10 years after there career has ended. There will be however taxes to pay when the withdrawel time comes but this should be less than during the atheles playing career. Player contract PARTIES TERMS OF AGREEMENT 1 The Player s Team The Player s team is the Club s First team, reserve team, farm team, cooperation club team or junior team, unless otherwise agreed in the appendix Financial and other conditions. In this contract, Club refers to a member club or organisation of the Finnish Football Association (Suomen Palloliitto) to whom have been transferred the rights to participate in competitive sport upon agreeing to a contract accepted, by the Football Association s governing body, between the club or organisation. 2 Trial period Player s contract, to inform the Player in writing of the abovementioned agreements with notice that they cannot be referred to afterwards. 6 Regulations Concerning the Player s Agent Requirements according to which the Player shall use a player agent selected or approved by the Club are null and void. If the Player has a contract with an agent, the Player shall notify the Club about it. If in the appendix Financial and other conditions a trial period has been agreed upon according to the Employment Contracts Act, or a term of contract with similar content has been agreed upon somewhere else than in the contract of employment, and the employment contract or contractual relation is terminated based on the trial period condition, the Club is required to hand over rights to the Player to a new club without remuneration or condition, granted that there are no unfulfilled obligations on the part of the Player. The rights of representation shall be handed over without match restrictions. 7 Disclosing Health Information Without the Player s consent, the Club has no right to disclose specific health information on the Player to a third party, observing the restrictions specified in the Personal Data Act. The Club cannot terminate the contract based on the trial period condition in the event of when the transfer of representation rights is impossible according to the rules of the competition, unless the Player is found guilty of a breach of contract. 3 The Option Clause 8 Gambling Player (hereinafter referred to as Player ) Social Security no. Address Telephone The Player is committed not to engage, personally or through an intermediary, in gambling his/her Club's and the farm team's matches or games and will not otherwise behave in a manner that might give rise to questions concerning the relationship between the Club and gambling. The option clause in a contract becomes binding only when it has been agreed upon in the appendix Financial and other conditions, attached to this contract. If the Player's contract does not mention wages for the option period, it shall be defined according to the valid terms of the agreement. Club (hereinafter referred to as Club ) VAT no. Address Telephone Contact person The Player is required to inform his employer and the Finnish Football Association and/or the Football League upon being contacted with a request, an enquiry or other wish to: fix the outcome of a match in advance; injure a member of one s own team or that of the opponent, to manipulate the circumstances and conditions or the game or pitch; to harass the opposing team either during or before the game and/or if the player is offered monetary or other forms of compensation for fixing a game. 4 The Player s Equipment In training sessions, matches and other Club functions the Player is to wear the appropriate attire or kit according to the guidelines of the team and Club management. All notifications related to the contractual relation are submitted to one of the addresses mentioned above and the other contracting party shall be immediately informed about changes in the information. Neglecting this term of contract gives the Club the right to terminate the player contract immediately. The Player is to return all property that has been given to him/her to the Club unless otherwise specified in the appendix "Financial and other conditions". 9 Doping, drugs and use of medication This player contract is applied in the following adult competitions: Men: The League, Division One and Division Two Women: The League and Division One The Club and Player approve that the Football Association of Finland may publish the length of this contract. 5 Commercial Rights The Player is committed to represent the Club in PR and other events as deemed by the Club management, without additional fees. The Player must comply with the current Finnish anti-doping committee, ADT ry, Football Federation, International Football Association and the Olympic Committee anti-doping legislation and is committed to not using drugs. Unless Finnish anti-doping legislation states otherwise, the current drug testing legislation of the International Olympic Committee will be enforced. The Player is obligated, when asked by Club management or coaches, to participate in press conferences and interviews both before and after matches. The contract shall be signed by both the Club and the Player. The financial and other conditions between the Player and the Club are defined in a separate contract, to be attached to this player contract. If some other terms of contract are in contradiction with these player contract terms, these player contract terms are the ones primarily observed in the contractual relation. The Club has sole marketing rights concerning photographs of the Player in the Club strip. Proven use of doping substances or drugs resulting in a ban from playing gives the Club the right to terminate the Player s contract. The use of doping or drugs and resulting conflicts between the Player and the Club will be resolved in court. The Player is not permitted, unless otherwise stated in the appendix Financial and other conditions", to form private sponsorship or other such agreements that are in dispute with similar agreements made by the Club. The Club is obliged, at the moment of signing the The terms mentioned in this contract and applicable peremptory provisions are applied in this contractual relation. The Player must refrain from using medication without the Club doctor's permission. If the Club has not appointed a doctor, the Player must him/herself find out whether the medicines are permittable within the Club's regulations. With this contract, the Player commits to training and playing football in the Club under the management and supervision of the Club. The Player is to behave in such a manner that is not detrimental to the club, the game or sport in general with unsportsmanlike or other such conduct. The Player is to take care of his/her physical condition at all times. TERM OF CONTRACT 10 Upholding the Rules of the Football Federation All sporting activity is to follow the rules and regulations of FIFA, UEFA and the Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto). The Player is also committed to abiding by the This is a fixed-term contract. The contract starts and ends. The work specified in the contract starts. The reason for the fixed-term contract is the general practice and seasonality of sports. 2 Service s provided by JPY for it s members: free legal advice personal insurance advice and offers financial advice member benefits of FIFPro free address for member Players magazine chance to take part transfer list chance to go on the JPY transfer list chance to take part in FIFPro winter tournament for unemployed players free annual membership product chance to invest and financial advice opportunity to take part in player education services chance to take part in the FIFPro Online Academy FEES: from 10 euros to 75 euros. 3 1 FPA OF FINLAND

5 1. HJK (Helsinki) 2. FC Honka (Espoo) 3. FC Lahti (Lahti) 4. MYPA (Myllykoski) 5. TPS (Turku) 5. FC Inter (Turku) 6. IFK Mariehamn (Maarianhamina) 8. VPS (Vaasa) 9. KuPS (Kuopio) 10. FF Jaro (Pietarsaari) 11. JJK (Jyväskylä) 12. RoPS (Rovaniemi) 7. FC Haka (Valkeakoski) 13. SJK (Seinäjoki) 14. PK-35 (Vantaa) 1. FC Viikingit (Helsinki) 16. JIPPO (Joensuu) 17. AC Oulu (Oulu) 17. OPS (Oulu) 18. FC KooTeePee (Kotka) 28. AC Kajaani (Kajaani) 35. Ilves (Tampere) South: 1. IF Gnistan (Helsinki) 1. LPS (Helsinki) 2. EsPa (Espoo) 23. GrIFK (Kauniainen) 1. Klubi04 (Helsinki) 2. Pallohonka (Espoo) 1. KäPa (Helsinki) 22. BK-46 (Karjaa) 19. EIF (Raasepori) 20. SalPa (Salo) East: 1. Atlantis FC (Helsinki) 38. JäPS (Järvenpää) 1. HIFK (Helsinki) 42. PK K-U (Tuusula) 1. FC POHU (Helsinki) 36. MP (Mikkeli) 37. FC Futura (Porvoo) 3. FC Kuusysi (Lahti) 1. Sudet (Helsinki) 18. KTP (Kotka) West: 32. MuSa (Pori) 37. Närpes Kraft (Närpiö) 32. FC Jazz (Pori) 33. Pallo-Iirot (Rauma) 36. Sporting Kristina (Kaskinen) 15. Härmä (Hämeenlinna) 35. TPV (Tampere) 5. ÅIFK (Turku) 15. FC Hämeenlinna (Hämeenlinna) 43. Maskun Palloseura (Masku) North: 31. PK-37 (Iisalmi) 12. Santa Claus (Rovaniemi) 25. GBK (Kokkola) 30. FC YPa (Ylivieska) 25. KPV (Kokkola) 24. PS Kemi (Kemi) 27. TP-47 (Tornio) 13. Kerho07 (Seinäjoki) 8. VIFK (Vaasa) 17. Tervarit (Oulu) 14. PK-35 (Vantaa) 1. HJK (Helsinki) 9. Pallokissat (Kuopio) 17. ONS (Oulu) 39. Åland United (Mariehamn) 5. TPS (Turku) 25. F10 (Kokkola) 2. FC Honka (Espoo) 32. Nice-Futis (Pori) 25. GBK (Kokkola) Group A: 1. Talenttiklubi 04 (Helsinki) 14. TiPS (Vantaa) 14. VJS (Vantaa) 3. FC Kuusysi (Lahti) 35. TJK (Tampere) 5. TuWe (Turku) 42. PK K-U (Tuusula) 1. MPS (Helsinki) Group B: 35. Ilves (Tampere) 8. FC Sport (Vaasa) 33. FC Rauma (Rauma) 11. JyPK (Jyväskylä) 13. Semi (Seinäjoki) 41. KSF (Kemiö) 24. Merilappi United (Kemi) 8. VIFK (Vaasa) 15. HJS (Hämeenlinna) Basic knowledge about finnish football There are three actors in the organisation of the Finnish professional football: Suomen palloliitto ry (Football Association of Finland), Jalkapalloliiga ry (Football League) and Jalkapallon pelaajayhdistys ry (Football Players Association of Finland) The Football Association of Finland (Suomen palloliitto ry) was founded in It affiliated to FIFA in the year 1908 and to UEFA in the year It has around 1000 member teams and around 116,000 players in these teams. The Football Association of Finland is the largest sport association in Finland measured by the number of players. It is a specialised association for football and as a member of FIFA has responsibility of all activities connected to football in Finland. The Veikkausliiga league is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league s name. The Veikkausliiga was founded in BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FINLAND

6 What is FIFPro? FIFPro is the worldwide representative organization for all professional players; more than 50,000 footballers in total. FIFPro exists since 1965 and currently has 46 members, 9 candidate members and 9 observers. JPY has been a full member of FIFPro since FIFPro organise together with players unions the FIFPro Winter Tournament for unemployed players to help them find a new club. FIFPro have also started the FIFPro Online Academy to help and inspire players to gain education and prepare for their second career. FIFPro s website, You will find news from the FIFPro board, news from the affiliated associations with international relevance and the relevant news from related organizations. FIFPRO Africa Egypt EGYPTIAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS ASSOCIATION E.P.F.A. Cameroon association des footballeurs camerounais DR Gongo union des footballeurs congolais (UFC) Ivory Coast association des footballeurs ivoriens (AFI) South Africa SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS UNION Asia & Oceania Japan J-LEAGUE PRO-FOOTBALLERS ASSOCIATION Australia AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS ASSOCIATION INC. India football players association of india (FPAI) Indonesia asosiasi pemain sepakbola profesional New Zealand NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS ASSOCIATION Europe Austria EREINIGUNG DER FUSSBALLER Belgium SPORTA V.S.B. Bulgaria ASSOCIATION OF BULGARIAN FOOTBALLERS Cyprus PANCYPRIAN FOOTBALLERS ASSOCIATION Denmark SPILLERFORENINGEN England P.F.A. Finland JPY France U.N.F.P. Greece P.S.A.P. Hungary TRADE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS Ireland P.F.A.I. Israel ISRAEL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION Italy A.I.C. Netherlands V.V.C.S. Norway NISO Poland Polski Zwiazek Piłkarzy Portugal S.J.P.F. Roumania ASOCIATIA FOTBALISTILOR AMATORI SI NONAMATORI - AFAN Russia UNION OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND COACHES OF RUSSIA Scotland P.F.A. SCOTLAND Slovenia SPINS Spain A.F.E. Sweden S.F.S. Switzerland SAFP America Argentina FUTBOLISTAS ARGENTINOS AGREMIADOS Bolivia Federación Sindical de Futbolistas Profesionales de Bolivia Brasil FEDERACAO NACIONAL DOS ATLETAS PROFISSIONAIS DE FUTEBOL (FENAPAF) Chile SINDICATO INTEREMPRESAS DE FUTBOLISTAS PROFESIONALES DE CHILE Colombia ACOLFUTPRO Ecuador ASOCIACIÓN DE FUTBOLISTAS DEL ECUADOR Paraguay FUTBOLISTAS AGREMIADOS DEL PARAGUAY Peru SAFAP Uruguay MUTUAL URUGUAYA DE FUTBOLISTAS PROFESIONALES USA MLS PLAYERS UNION Cameroon ASSOCIATION DES FOOTBALLEURS CAMEROUNAIS

7 Fimu starts to focus on anti-racism educational strategy by addressing the young people in schools aiming to provide next generation people with relevant knowledge and information to help them challenge all forms of racism in the living multi-cultural society. For this Fimu has built strong co-operation with top clubs like FC JJK who provided it s famous players to take part in this project by organising visit s to schools, this was key to success for achieving great results, as well as the importance of the role played by the youth associations. Show Racism The Red Card Tackling racism through sport top of the priority list for Fimu as a federation, already in 2003 Fimu created the SRTRC: Show Racism The Red Card campaign to bring across the Anti-Racist message throughout the sports fields and society of Finland. Thanks to the big support of JPY (Football Players Union) and other Nordic countries,srtrc project has been succesfull in Finland. SRTRC has created Nordic poster with top names of Nordic football, a join magazine in all the different Nordic languages, as well as DVD video-audio in Finnish language. On 2006 the SRTRC was for the first time in top football Finnish leagues both men s and women s Super- Leagues, since that time SRTRC campaign stay as the only campaign delivering Anti-Racism work in top levels of sports in Finland. Show Racism The Red Card

8 You should avoid gambling In Finland we have very strict rules about gambling. You should ask your club, association or JPY what the rules on betting on football in Finland are. As professional football player you must never bet on any match you or your team are involved in as it would result in a conflict of interest not compatible with the integrity of football as a sport. Betting on other football matters may also raise questions. You are likely to know and be friends with other football players and are therefore best advised not to bet on football to avoid potential difficulties. As a player you will have access to information that is not yet available to the general public, such as injuries or team selection. This information would be of use to those betting on football looking to secure an unfair advantage. There is nothing wrong with players having sensitive information; it is what you do with it that matters. Never seek to fix any aspect of a match. Do not put yourself in a situation which would bring you, or even force you, to adversely influence the course of a match. If you are contacted by some third party about possible match fixing, you should straightaway refuse it and inform your club immediately about the contact that was made. STOP FIXED MATCHES

9 Tips and advices! First of all, don t be afraid to ask. People in Finland speak fairly good English. When you arrive to Finland it is recommendable that you give your team management your family contact numbers in your home country. Don t only rely on your agent as the immediate contact in case of an emergency. Sports agents travel a lot and might be out of touch. It s good to have your passport with you at all times when you go out. Know your address and even better if you learn to pronounce it! The national emergency number in Finland is 112. If you have a sauna in your apartment don t attempt to dry your clothes there as it is a major fire hazard. Marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine etc are against the law here as well. The Finnish Anti Doping Agensy conducts random drug testings in all top level sports, including football. The Finnish Anti Doping Agency conducts random drug tests in all top level sports including football. Remember that when you call home its not just around the corner, so to avoid any expensive surprises at the end of the month try and limit your long distance calls. One good option is Skype.Skype is an excellent way of cutting phone costs and fast internet connections are common in Finland. >> Tips and advices

10 If you re not from a Northern climate, then driving in Finland is something that you re not used to. Particularly in the winter snow, rain, fog, darkness and icy roads make driving conditions extremely difficult. Also remember that most cars in Finland have standard shift gear control. The seat belt law is really strict here. So please buckle up! When it comes to drinking and driving, DON T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! The rules on drink driving are very tight here and your chance s of getting away with it are almost zero. If you are involved in an accident while drinking and driving, you are liable for all costs. Getting caught drinking and driving will not only put you in trouble with the law, but also with your team. It can cost you your job. You may want to go out and feel the night life in various towns. If for some reason you find yourself in hassle, keep yourself cool and let the doormen handle the situation. The doormen work for tips and they usually remember the tippers. That can come in handy when you find yourself standing in a long line in minus zero weather. Enjoy your stay and good luck with your season! Tips and advices

11 Aurakatu 22, Turku, FINLAND A membership of player union is the best investment you can make as a pro footballer. Noboby else can deliver this much know how at such a low cost. Chris Cleaver, SJK and boardmember of JPY