Fans in several Bundesliga stadiums protested on Saturday (December 9th, 2023) against the entry of a DFL investor. Bochum’s managing director Ilja Kaenzig, Union Berlin’s president Dirk Zingler and FC Bayern also positioned themselves.
Supporters of several Bundesliga clubs showed their rejection on banners and pieces of paper at games on Saturday afternoon. Among other things, a banner from Borussia Mönchengladbach supporters before the game at 1. FC Union Berlin said: “It remains the same: No to investors in the DFL!”. They also held up “No” notes.
Fans of FC Augsburg (“Stop the DFL investor entry”), SC Freiburg (“Against investors in clubs and associations”) and 1. FC Heidenheim (“It stays that way! No investors in the DFL!”) also protested against it possible entry of investors. The newcomer explained to its fan advisory board this week that the club management was “positive” about a strategic marketing partnership under certain conditions.
Another vote on the investor deal on Monday
A possible strategic marketing partnership will be decided again at the general meeting of the German Football League on Monday. Similar plans had already failed on May 24th. A corresponding motion did not receive the required two-thirds majority.
Bochum’s Kaenzig believes investors are necessary
Bochum’s managing director Ilja Kaenzig has meanwhile once again spoken out in favor of an investor joining the DFL. “I think the commitment has to come now. And if not, then the issue is buried for now,” Kaenzig told Deutschlandfunk. The German clubs must be able to generate more income in order to remain competitive, he demanded. Kaenzig had already supported the then failed DFL plan in May.
Problems for smaller clubs if rejected?
Kaenzig expects a close decision in the vote. If the decision for a deal is not made again, Kaenzig sees problems, especially for the smaller clubs. “The big ones can live without this private equity business. They will also find solutions in this way. That’s why I personally find it difficult to understand that many small ones in particular are rebelling against it. Because objectively speaking, I believe we will benefit disproportionately. ” But the decision does not have the dimension to shake football to its foundations, says Kaenzig. “At the end of the day, it’s a business deal. It has nothing to do with the romanticism of football. It’s discussed that way, but if the deal doesn’t go through, we’ll go back to business as usual and move on.”
Union President Zingler calls for the vote to be postponed
In a letter to the German Football League and all 35 other professional clubs, Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler called for the vote on investor entry in the Bundesliga to be postponed. Above all, the expected lower profit sharing compared to the proposal rejected in May is cited as a point of criticism.
Until now, Union Berlin has been seen as a supporter of an investor model for professional football, despite the critical attitude of many of its supporters.
FC Bayern supports investor entry
FC Bayern Munich will speak out in favor of investing in the DFL. “FC Bayern Munich supports the German Football League’s project. We want to shape the future of the Bundesliga, we have to get better, especially in foreign marketing. We have to create better digital infrastructures and we have to make ourselves much more visible in international competition,” said Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen at the request of the German Press Agency on Sunday. “I firmly believe that the DFL will manage to find a balance between tradition and vision. In addition to financial support, a good partner can also contribute its competence and know-how.”
2023-12-10 09:23:18
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