The German Football League (DFL) is planning to set up a licensing company that an investor could join. Borussia Dortmund fans are calling for a nationwide protest at the weekend.
fans of Borussia Dortmund call for a nationwide protest in German stadiums at the weekend against the possible entry of an investor in Deutsche football League (DFL) on. Corresponding banners should be shown during the games, the fan association “Südtribüne Dortmund” wrote in a statement.
“We are of the opinion that by opening up the DFL to investors, a decision could be made shortly that has the explosive power to change German football permanently and once and for all – and again probably not for the better from the point of view of us football fans,” the alliance wrote on its website.
What is the German Football League planning?
The DFL’s plan, which the 36 clubs in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga would have to agree to with a two-thirds majority, provides that the involvement of a strategic partner would bring the DFL around 1.8 to 3 billion euros. In return, the investor should receive 12.5 to 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the TV rights – with a term of 25 to 30 years.
The DFL management says that an investor is necessary to secure the future of the league and clubs. They want to ensure international competitiveness. Especially when it comes to foreign marketing, the Bundesliga lags behind the English, Spanish and Italian leagues. Reference was also made to digitization.
Lots of open questions
There are still many unanswered questions on which the clubs do not seem to agree: According to which key would the money be distributed? What is the money used for? Which clubs can benefit, how are those promoted and relegated dealt with? Basically, there is disagreement among the clubs as to whether an entry would make sense and what this should look like in concrete terms.
BVB fans fear investor influence
The Dortmund fans reject the plans. “Do we want to watch football become turbo-commercialized and become even more alienated from society?” they ask in their statement.
“The opening for investors […] carries the risk that they will use their influence to maximize revenues. If necessary, also against the interests of fans and stadium visitors,” said Jan von Leeuwen, board member of the fan and promotion department of BVB eV.
Consolidation of unequal structures?
There are fears, for example, that the match day will be fragmented with kick-off times that are unfriendly to fans. In addition, it is unclear whether the entry of an investor would lead to a strengthening of competitiveness at all.
“If the hoped-for additional income were to be distributed in favor of the already strong clubs in order to strengthen them in European competitions, this would ultimately only mean the consolidation of the structures that are already unequal today,” said Claas Schneider, spokesman for the Dortmund South Tribune Fan Association. It would be even more difficult for the smaller clubs to close the gap.
Fans demand salary cap
Instead, the fans are demanding a fair distribution of TV money, the introduction of a salary cap throughout Europe and the establishment of a financial fair play system. The 50+1 rule, which in Germany prevents an investor from having a majority of votes in clubs, should be extended across Europe. Clubs, associations and also the fans should be involved in these projects.
The project currently planned by the DFL, on the other hand, acts “like a measure to raise short-term capital”, to which the preservation of football culture is subordinate.
