Bundesliga “Hard but fair”
Fan representative accuses 96 boss Kind of “rumbling”.
Status: 20.02.2024 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Thomas Kessen from the fan association “Our Curve” sharply criticizes Martin Kind
Source: © WDR/Oliver Ziebe
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Martin Kind is a central figure in the dispute over an investor’s entry into German professional football. In the program “Hard but Fair”, despite questions, he did not reveal whether he adhered to the guidelines of his club Hannover 96 when voting.
The ongoing protests and demands for a new vote on investor entry into German professional football continue to concern the German Football League. According to dpa information, the DFL Presidium will once again deal in detail with the ongoing investor process this week. According to information from “Sport Bild”, the management board is meeting this Wednesday to discuss how to proceed in the controversial case that has been hotly debated for weeks. There will also be two information events with the 36 first and second division teams on February 28th and 29th and another general meeting in March.
Among other things, it is being discussed whether the vote on an investor’s billion-dollar entry will be repeated and then voted on openly. Hannover 96 boss Martin Kind would not have to worry about a public election in the event of another vote. “I’m open to it, I don’t think about it,” said Kind on Monday evening on the ARD program “Hart aber fair”.
“Violation of the 50+1 rule”
The German Football League wants to collect one billion euros from a financial investor for a percentage share of the TV revenue. When the 36 professional clubs voted on the deal, the necessary two-thirds majority was only barely achieved. Due to the controversial role of Hanover managing director Kind, there is suspicion that the vote could have violated the 50+1 rule. The rule limits the influence of external donors on clubs in the first and second league.
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Hanover’s club management had instructed Kind to vote against the investor’s entry. However, the voting results and the public confessions of those opposing the proposal suggest that the 79-year-old voted yes and thus helped the DFL plan gain the necessary majority.
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Child himself does not comment on his vote. Even on Monday evening’s show, despite repeated requests, he did not reveal how he voted. “I reject that,” said Kind about the approach of other clubs that published their vote after the secret vote. “We have a very special situation with the 96 Treaty. We assume that we will observe the 50+1 rule taking this 96 contract into account,” Kind continued.
The managing director of second division soccer team Hannover 96: Martin Kind.
Source: Swen Pförtner/dpa
Thomas Kessen from the fan association “Our Curve” criticized Kind for his continued silence. “Mr Kind actually has the opportunity to very easily prevent a lot of damage to German football,” said Kessen. Ultimately, the main reason behind the supporters’ protests is that the democratic acceptance of the vote results is not given or at least is being massively doubted. Kessen accused Kind of “rumbling”. “The fact that we are at this point is already doing massive damage to German football. We’re talking about whether Mr. Kind voted yes or no and whether he followed the club’s instructions.”
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert spoke out in favor of a new and then public vote. “My assessment, just as a fan, would be that the legitimacy would have to be re-established,” said Kühnert.
Fans in the stadiums have been protesting for weeks against the planned investor entry and the manner in which the process is being carried out. As a result, there are often several game interruptions during Bundesliga games. Some encounters were even on the verge of being cancelled.
