As on matchday 17, there were interruptions in the Bundesliga. Reason: The impending entry of an investor into the DFL.
Fans once again protested against the German Football League’s investor plans at Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga games. The supporters of several clubs were silent at the start of the games on Saturday, and there were numerous posters and banners.
Among other things, in the game between 1. FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund, golden chocolate coins flew onto the pitch after twelve minutes; the game was interrupted for more than seven minutes. In the stadiums there were often chants of “Shitty DFL” from the fans. In front of several corners there were posters with the inscription “German football remains risk capital!”. In the early afternoon there were already protests in the 2nd league.
On Wednesday, the DFL announced that two candidates were still in the running for the strategic partnership. A financial investor is expected to pay one 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. The process will run until the end of March, as the DFL explained after the general meeting shortly before Christmas. The league wants to use the money primarily to expand its infrastructure. Many organized fans speak out against these investor plans.