Fans are protesting against the Hannover 96 boss in football stadiums. At “Hart, aber fair” Martin Kind met a fan representative. He responds to his accusations.
Many football fans are currently certain: Hannover 96 boss Martin Kind voted “yes” in a secret vote on the entry of an investor into German professional football. On Monday evening, Louis Klamroth tried to get the truth out of him on “Hart, aber fair”.
However, this effort was not crowned with success. Kind made it clear that he did not want to participate in speculation about who voted how. He rejects the fact that representatives of many clubs made their vote public afterwards.
- Martin Kind, Managing Director Hannover 96
- Kevin Kühnert, SPD General Secretary
- Ariane Hingst, ex-professional footballer, managing director of Sport FC Viktoria Berlin
- Markus Babbel, ex-professional footballer
- Thomas Kessen, fan association “Our Curve”
- Mia Guethe, sports journalist
- Nico Heymer, podcaster, manager Calcio Berlin in the Baller League
- Marcus Bark, sports show reporter
- Christoph Breuer, professor at the Cologne Sports University
“I have a different understanding of democracy, I also have a different understanding of the rules of the game,” explained the Hannover 96 boss. He also suggested that some clubs may have only “supposedly” voted “no” in the German Football League (DFL) vote.
Did child act against the wishes of his club?
When the 36 professional clubs voted on the DFL deal, the necessary two-thirds majority was only barely achieved. It was decided that the DFL could collect one billion euros from a financial investor for a percentage share of the TV revenue.
Kind is accused of violating the 50+1 rule and voting “yes” contrary to what his club wanted. That’s why he became a central figure in fan protests in the Bundesliga.
Fans have been demonstrating in stadiums for weeks against the planned investor entry. Numerous games have already had to be interrupted several times and some were even close to being canceled.
“Even if it were, what difference did it make?”
The spokesman for the fan association “Our Curve” was not satisfied with Kind’s silence when asked about his vote on Monday evening.
“Mr Kind has a very easy opportunity to prevent a lot of damage to German football,” explained Thomas Kessen. “We’re talking about whether Mr. Kind voted ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and whether he followed the club’s instructions,” he explained.
“Even if that were the case, what difference would it make?” asked Kind. By answering the question, he could ensure certainty, replied Kessen.
Fan representative Kessen criticized that the DFL plan lacked “democratic acceptance”. “Especially because of her behavior and her fussing in the discussion afterwards,” he accused Kind.
The Hannover 96 boss’s answer was brief: “Yes, ok, I take note!”
Kühnert is calling for a new vote
Kind also received criticism from SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert, who was in the group because he is a passionate football fan. There is currently a legitimacy problem in German football, explained Kühnert.
According to the politician, fans cannot be sure that all the rules of the game were followed when the DFL decision was made behind closed curtains. “The entire conversation with you up to this point is an expression of that,” Kühnert added to the child.
That’s why it’s now important to re-establish legitimacy, said the Social Democrat. One possibility for this would be a new, open vote.
Klamroth wanted to know from Kind what he thought about a new, non-secret vote. “I’m open to that,” he replied. However, he is not particularly worried about it getting that far.
“How would you vote in an open vote?” the moderator tried his luck again. “Let’s just wait and see!” replied Kind. He doesn’t understand the discussion about another vote, after all, both the result and the decision have already been determined.
Child comments on the crosshair representation
Kühnert and Kind agreed elsewhere. When it came to protests that personally targeted the Hannover 96 boss: Most recently, angry fans of his club showed posters with Kind’s face behind a red crosshair.
“Such expressions are not acceptable at all,” said Kühnert about the incident. “As a fan, I feel completely in solidarity with the protest and its basic idea,” he clarified. However, the conflict could also be conducted without such illustrations.
Klamroth wanted to know from Kind how he personally perceived such actions by fans. He explained that he did not find the hostility stressful. “I hardly notice it anymore,” said the Hannover 96 boss.
Looking at the crosshair display, he remarked: “Of course that is not acceptable.”