BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The spokesman for the fan umbrella organization “Our Curve” believes the recent massive fan protest against an investor joining the German Football League (DFL) is justified. “It was only after the Hertha game against HSV was interrupted for 30 minutes in Berlin that I gave interviews and other fans had their say. That means the protest has only had an impact since then,” said Thomas Kessen in an interview with RTL/ntv. During the second division game in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium last Saturday, fans repeatedly threw tennis balls onto the field, causing an interruption of around half an hour.
“Protest that doesn’t hurt isn’t a protest. Now it hurts a little bit, but also in a figurative sense. Because a football game is interrupted. Nobody gets hurt, nobody gets hurt, nobody gets hurt,” Kessen explained. The fan spokesman expects further actions from the supporters this weekend, including game interruptions, “because the DFL has not made an offer that is even remotely worth negotiating.”
Kessen is annoyed by the DFL’s statement
Kessen was also annoyed by the league association’s statement, which said that fans did not have to fear “any disadvantages” as a result of the deal. The fan spokesman criticized this as having “no substance whatsoever”: “Basically the DFL says in its statement: “Dear fans, come along, we’ll explain to you again what we’re doing, you’re too stupid to understand it.” No Word about another vote, about maintaining 50+1.” The DFL is seeking a partnership with an investor in order to strengthen foreign marketing in particular.
The organized fans see this critically. Kessen explained that they now want the vote on investor entry to be repeated in an open election this time. In December of the previous year, the 36 first and second division clubs voted with the required two-thirds majority for a strategic partnership between the DFL and an external investor. This should pay one billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenue. The DFL is currently still negotiating with two interested parties.
The close voting result caused discussions. Martin Kind’s voting behavior for Hannover 96 raised questions. Kind had been instructed by the parent club to vote against it. It is unclear whether he did this./dj/DP/jha