CODE OF ETHICS THE DNA OF CLUB BRUGGE CLUB OF DNA THE 6 CLUB BRUGGE NV TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD 10 USER GUIDE CODE OF ETHICS 12 Design and objectives Those involved in the Code of Ethics Publication and distribution of the Code of Ethics WHO ARE WE? THE DNA OF CLUB BRUGGE 14 Unity Authenticity Simply proud Loyalty Passion Social conscience Tolerance Openness and honesty Integrity and respect Sportsmanship WHAT DO WE DO ON A SPORTING LEVEL? 17 Human relations Relationships with players, coaches and directors of other football clubs Relationships with referees Relationships with official bodies Relationships with supporters During the match 7 8 YOUTH OPERATION 19 Hospitality and welfare of young people Players Coaches Parents Tackling unacceptable behaviour Girls’ teams Sport and school Minors Bullying Referee academy CLUB BRUGGE AS A FOOTBALL BUSINESS 24 Reliability in partnership Financial transparency and good business practice Business communication and confidentiality Organisational model Health and safety at Club Brugge Sustainability Corporate responsibility Contributors Volunteers and stewards MONITORING THE CODE OF ETHICS 27 Active monitoring Ethics committee Sanctions 9 FOREWORD CLUB BRUGGE NV FOREWORD CHAIRMAN Bart Verhaeghe 55,000 supporters in a whirling King Baudouin Stadium, and I was one of them. I was a twelve year old kid from Grimbergen who ought to have supported Anderlecht. But my West Flanders roots are deep. I cheered Blauw-Zwart on in the almost flawless West Flemish that I inherited from my parents. That evening, 11 June 1977, I saw with my own eyes what would be described decades later as No Sweat/No Glory. Club Brugge managed to turn a 2-0 deficit against Anderlecht into a 4-3 win. We had won the cup, and the following season we even won our third national title in a row. It was the club’s heyday, and I experienced it as a proud supporter swearing eternal loyalty to Blauw-Zwart. The coach at the time, Ernst Happel, who subjected the players to intense physical training, was one of my footballing heroes. When I became chairman of Club Brugge, almost thirty-five years later, I wanted all our supporters to be able to feel that magic of 11 June 1977 once again. Every match. Club Brugge must once again become that attacking club that goes right to the limit. A club that strives toward fair competition, with respect for its opponents. We must re-establish our name as a top Belgian club. We may have had that reputation, but it needs results to keep it. Hard work was needed, like Happel said. Not just on the pitch, but off it too. Because that constant effort to become something better felt like the DNA of Club Brugge. I felt that was what our supporters wanted and that it was the key to a sustainable future. 10 No Sweat/No Glory means more than just sweat. Club is doing its utmost in sporting terms, but also in its engagement with the community. Football has a crucial role to play in society. The football pitch is a place where people come together, where discipline prevails and where values and standards are passed on to the younger generation. If there is one club that has to set an example, it is Club Brugge. We are ambassadors of respect, passion, loyalty and teamwork. The team of supporters, players, staff, employees, volunteers, partners, management and board is the club family. Club Brugge K.V. Mission Statement Club Brugge is a welcoming family club that strives to be the best every day. It’s in our DNA. Hand in hand we will go that extra mile together in unity and loyalty to our club. Club Brugge is not just football. Blauw- Zwart is a way of life. The DNA of Club Brugge, with all of the values and standards on which our policy has been based in recent years, has now been set out in the Club Brugge Code of Ethics. It is a guideline for every part of our club, from day-to-day management to partnerships with clients. From communication with and from supporters to communication in the dressing rooms. I would like to thank everyone in and around Club Brugge for their cooperation. In particular I would like to offer a word of thanks to Ignaas Devisch, professor of ethics at the University of Ghent, for the calm discussions within the club family which led to the creation of this code of ethics. I would also like to specially thank you as a supporter, contributor, commercial partner, volunteer, director or news-hungry football fan. After reading this document, you will be more convinced than ever of the Blauw-Zwart values that help us Bluvn Goan as a top club with a sustainable sporting future. BART VERHAEGHE Chairman 11 SUMMARY 1. USER GUIDE CODE OF ETHICS ACTIVITY OF COMPANY NAME DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CODE OF ETHICS 1.4. The Code of Ethics applies to everyone who is involved 1.1. This Code of Ethics has been drawn up to meet the need with Club Brugge, either up close or at a distance: players, coaches, to explain further who we are and what we stand for. In an ever directors, supporters, referees, agents, volunteers, scouts, parents more global and complex football world, as Club Brugge we wish to and family members of players old and young, partners, sponsors clarify our core ethical values so that they can inspire our daily lives. and other contributors or involved parties. 1.2. This code is just another example of how we have 1.5. Players are defined as: all players for every teams worked bottom up for years: the search for our DNA. Some from the age at which they are able to understand the social additional benchmarks are: the core values which have long been consequences of their own actions. displayed on the website, the slogan ‘No Sweat/No Glory’, the Club Academy operation, the Foundation, and the emphasis on an 1.6. Supporters are defined as: anyone who supports the club intense supporter experience and a participative voice for everyone on or in the vicinity of the field of play, for both youth matches and involved in Club Brugge. professional team matches, whose match or season tickets are purchased via Club Brugge. 1.3. The Code of Ethics explicitly endorses all of the legal frameworks within which we have to operate as a football club. 1.7. Contributors are defined as: anyone who makes a specific But we want to do more than just comply with the law. We want to contribution to Club Brugge (sponsors, suppliers, volunteers, paid demonstrate that ethics are of paramount importance to us and that employees, commercial partners, lawyers and all other staff). our ethical DNA is the source of inspiration and the touchstone in everything we do. 12 PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS 1.8. The Code of Ethics forms the guideline for how Club 1.11. Reference will be made to the Code of Ethics on all Brugge acts, both internally and externally. It provides a framework formal documents, so that all involved parties and third parties can to inspire the actions of all those involved with the club, both be inspired by it. We want to be transparent about this for everyone. between themselves and in dealings with third parties. Third parties will be notified of this in formal agreements or transactions. 1.12. This code is a direct source of inspiration for how we interact with each other on a daily basis, both within and outside the 1.9. Club Brugge undertakes to take all reasonable steps to club. promote the Code of Ethics to all echelons within the club and in its dealings with third parties. The Code of Ethics will be published on the website, together with our new Mission Statement for everyone to read. 1.10. All contributors to Club Brugge will be invited to familiarise themselves with the Code of Ethics through clear announcements in the club’s buildings, on the Club Brugge website, via contracts, ticketing or other exchanges of information. 13 2. WHO ARE WE? THE DNA OF CLUB BRUGGE Players consoling each other after their loss against Liverpool in the 1976 UEFA Cup final. OUR CORE VALUES Supporters invade the pitch after Club won the championship in 1988. UNITY (ALLEMOALE THOPE) 2.4. Club Brugge stands for teamwork and cooperation. Individuals are important, but the team is even more so. Players at Club Brugge do not pursue their own success, they pool their efforts towards a common goal: to be the best at their sport. We go the extra mile for each other. Tifo by the Blue Army at the King Baudo- in Stadium at the cup final between Club 2.5. Players work and train together. Supporters would rather Brugge and Anderlecht in 2015. cheer on their own team than disparage their opponents. Leaders and contributors are all pulling in the same direction. We have one major goal in mind: to perform as well as possible both on and off the pitch. 2.6. We celebrate together and we share the difficult moments with each other. You can learn from conflicts or setbacks. Together, we will grow stronger, both personally and as a team. 2.7. We do not abandon anyone and we support each other. There may be stars, but only if they support the collective. Togetherness drives us forward. AUTHENTICITY (ACTIONS NOT WORDS) 2.8. Actions not words are what we swear by, and that itself is not just idle chat.