In their justification for their clear no to the DFL’s invitation to talk, the organized fans described there being no alternative to a new vote on the investor question. And the fight for this should continue, they announced in response to a statement from the German Football League.
“The longer the protests are ignored, the more united we will be in calling for a new vote.”, said the statement, which was signed by “Our Curve”, “QFF – Queer Football Fans”, “F_in – Network Women in Football”, “FC Playfair” and “BAFF – Alliance of Active Football Fans”. It is a fallacy to believe that only a fraction of fans are against the planned investor deal and, above all, how it came about.
Reaction to DFL statement
The active fans’ statement late on Thursday evening was a reaction to a statement from the German Football League. Because of the ongoing protests at games, which have recently led to long interruptions in the first and second leagues, they invited representatives from the fan scene to talk.
“Along with the right to have a say, we all have to face the responsibility of dealing intensively with critical issues. Not every exchange can guarantee that all discussion partners will then agree.”, the DFL said. The fans spoke of one “smug tone of press release” and also criticized the processes, among other things.
Fans want to be noticed
With this statement, the DFL once again fails to recognize that the stadium atmosphere is a positive feature of German professional football, said the chairman of “Our Curve”, Jost Peters. “The fans are what sets German football apart from other European leagues. The inclusion of fans and club members should not only be preached publicly, but also lived.” But there can be no question of that in this question.
Dario Minden, fan representative in the DFB Fans and Fan Cultures Commission, said: “The DFL’s cheap statement that ‘participation by fans and members in the clubs is an essential part of German football’ has no basis when it comes to investors.” The organized fans expressly welcomed the fact that there were calls for a new vote from within the club ranks.
Financial investor is rejected
For months, the active fan scenes have been protesting against the DFL’s plans, according to which a financial investor should pay the DFL one billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenues. In a vote by the 36 professional clubs in December, the necessary two-thirds majority was only barely achieved. The voting behavior of Martin Kind for Hannover 96, who was instructed by the parent club to vote against, caused questions.