The leadership crisis at historic Berlin club Tennis Borussia has reached a critical juncture after club officials formally addressed an internal revolt from the youth department. According to reports from FuPa, the supervisory board of Tennis Borussia Berlin has officially rejected a formal petition calling for the immediate removal of chairman Ariel Gala.
Youth Boycott Paralyzes Operations
The decision, delivered following a supervisory board meeting, directly addresses an escalation that paralyzed the club’s youth operations over the preceding weekend. Earlier in the week, a collective of 23 youth coaches submitted a formal petition demanding Gala’s ousting amid a cascade of mutual accusations between the board and youth section leaders.
The conflict boiled over when every single youth team refused to take the pitch for their scheduled fixtures, prompting swift disciplinary actions that included the suspension of several key youth department officials.
Supervisory Board Rejects Ousting
In a formal statement issued to the petitioners, the supervisory board confirmed the outcome of their Tuesday evening deliberations. “We discussed your application today and came to the decision to reject it,” the board stated in the document obtained by FuPa.
While the board stopped short of detailing specific justifications for keeping Gala at the helm, the governing body emphasized that the rejection does not signal an end to the internal investigation.
Council of Elders Set to Review Allegations
Rather than closing the book on the dispute, supervisory board members announced plans for a comprehensive review of the events and the widespread allegations exchanged by both factions. The governing body stated an intention to coordinate its next steps alongside the club’s council of elders (Ältestenrat) before re-establishing direct communication with the disgruntled youth coaches.
“We take your concern seriously and hope for your trust,” the board wrote, while also promising a more detailed public statement later in the day.
Unresolved Friction at Mommsenstadion
The survival of Gala’s chairmanship leaves the underlying friction largely unresolved. The supervisory board reiterated that dismissing the removal petition does not constitute a definitive judgment on the numerous grievances aired publicly over recent days. Instead, the club faces the delicate task of bridging a widening gulf between volunteer youth staff and executive leadership in the NOFV-Oberliga Nord.
As the club endures this turbulent phase, attention turns to the promised statements from the supervisory board and council of elders. Supporters and club members await concrete steps toward institutional stabilization following a weekend that exposed deep organizational fractures at Mommsenstadion.
