Union Berlin is generally open to investors – the move was the right thing to do

“Shit DFL” wrong addressee

Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler has confirmed that he is generally open to investors in German football – as long as the type of deal is right. “We as a Union are not fundamentally against investors in football for ideological reasons, because we ourselves are a club that has been investing in all of its areas with outside capital for 20 years. 1. FC Union Berlin is a story of courageous investors,” said Zingler in a club interview with the Bundesliga club.

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The “Irons” were not among the 24 first and second division clubs that gave their consent in mid-December for the planned entry of an investor into the German Football League (DFL). “We voted against this type of investor deal because we don’t think it’s good for the league. Because we believe that we are making a decision over a period of 20 years that we cannot yet foresee,” explained Zingler and added in general: “I am clearly against investors who are purely interested in returns. I am against multi-club ownership. I am against investors who actually change our football.”

After months of advertising, the DFL leadership was given the mandate to begin negotiations for a strategic partnership with an external investor. The new partner is to pay 1 billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenue. The contract should have a maximum term of 20 years and be signed by the start of the 2024/25 season. A large part of the income will flow into the further development of the DFL business model and, above all, strengthen foreign marketing.

There had recently been strong criticism of the decision from the fan camps. “I would once again appeal to this terminology of ‘shitty DFL’ in the protests. It’s unclear again because the DFL employees didn’t decide, nor did Mr. Lenz and Mr. Merkel as managing directors. The clubs have decided. So if it says ‘Screw DFL’, that’s once again the wrong addressee,” said Zingler.

Zingler: Moving from Union Berlin to the Olympic Stadium was the right thing to do

Looking back, Zingler also believes that moving to the Olympic Stadium for the Champions League games was the right thing to do. “In the end we had over 210,000 viewers and we gained a lot of new contacts through sponsorship. We have a lot on the positive side, but we have also felt pain. Because each of us would have liked to experience these games in the An der Alten Försterei stadium,” said the 59-year-old and summed up: “In the end, I think we made the right decision.”

In order to offer as many Union players as possible a ticket, the capital club had moved for its three home games in the “premier league”. The Union Stadium only offers space for around 22,000 visitors. Around 74,000 fans were able to watch the games per game in the venue of city rivals Hertha BSC.

Zingler spoke of a difficult decision. “I think the vast majority consider the decision for the Olympic Stadium to be the right one,” he said and particularly raved about the atmosphere in the 2-3 win against Real Madrid. “Everyone who was there will remember this evening. This half-time, the course of the game and being able to share this – that’s part of a great day in the history of our club.”

At its premiere on Europe’s larger football stage, Union was unable to win a single game and was eliminated as bottom of the group after the preliminary round. The Köpenickers were only able to score against Naples and Braga (1:1 each).

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