The DFL investor deal is history. The reactions to the end of the disputes between opponents and supporters vary.
The DFL’s billion dollar deal has collapsed. After massive protests from fans in recent weeks, those responsible for the German Football League ultimately gave in. “A successful continuation of the process no longer seems possible in view of the current developments,” confirmed BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke as spokesman for the DFL executive committee.
After the deal was broken, various protagonists of the past few weeks reacted to the DFL decision. Most of them welcomed the end.
Dario Minden, head of Eintracht Frankfurt’s fan department, told t-online: “It’s an impressive process. The power of the grassroots has been shown.” Minden emphasized that ultimately it was about more than the media partnership with an investor itself. He described the whole thing as “an important victory for 50+1.” Because: “The fact that the fans ensured that the farce surrounding the twenty-fourth vote didn’t just go through shows that 50+1 is not just folklore or an empty phrase. 50+1 is democratic co-determination and that is lived in football Germany and by the Base vigilantly followed and protected.”
According to the 50+1 rule, which is anchored in the statutes of the German Football Association and the German Football League, it is not possible for investors to take over the majority of votes in corporations founded by football clubs, into which professional teams are usually spun off. A club must always hold at least 50 percent plus one vote in a stock corporation or corporation.
“Other countries may have decided on a different style of football, but in this country it only works with the grassroots and compliance with their co-determination rights. That must now also be the motto at the DFL level,” said Minden.
After TV appearance: Fan representative sees “great success”
Another fan representative also reacted to the end of the deal. Thomas Kessen, association spokesman for “Our Curve” told the SID: “A good day for Germany’s football fans.” Kessen was recently a guest on the TV format “Hart, aber fair” and vehemently expressed his point of view on the subject.
“The comprehensive, but very peaceful and very creative protests were ultimately the key to success,” he emphasized. “This is a great success for all active football fans and all members of the clubs, which shows that German football is member-based and democratic and that these members must be included in such groundbreaking decisions.”
The remaining investor does not want to comment
VfB Stuttgart was one of the first clubs to make a statement about the failed deal. “We welcome this understandable decision by the DFL executive committee, which allows all of us who love football to come together again,” wrote the board.
Werder Bremen took a similar approach. “In the current situation, this is the right decision for me. The entire system was at risk due to the game interruptions in the last few weeks,” explained CEO Klaus Filbry.
“We support this step by the DFL executive committee and consider it to be the right decision in the overall situation,” emphasized Thomas Herrich, managing director of second division club Hertha BSC.
The remaining investor CVC was less willing to provide information. The private equity company has noted the DFL’s exit from negotiations regarding a multi-billion dollar investment by the investment group without further assessment. “We are not making any comment,” CVC said on Wednesday in response to a request from the sports information service for a reaction to the DFL executive board’s decision.