After his return to the FC Bayern supervisory board, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge questions the solidarity of German professional football. An ordeal is imminent.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had already climbed onto the stage with powerful strides when the most prominent guest at the Spobis sports business congress was willing to be asked about pressing issues in German professional football on Thursday afternoon. The new member of the supervisory board of FC Bayern delivered a message at the Düsseldorf trade fair that must have been quite worrying for the Bundesliga community of solidarity.
“I’ve been wondering since last Tuesday, where should the investment come from now? 16 clubs canceled the central marketing of the DFL last week,” said the 67-year-old. The appeasements, especially from representatives of the second division, did not help after the collapsed investor deal: In addition to Borussia Dortmund, the industry leader also publicly questioned the league association with its 36 clubs.
Separation between the first and second division can no longer be ruled out
He would not wish for a separation between the first and second divisions, but he can no longer rule it out, said the long-standing Bayern boss. “Because this vote was a gauntlet that had not previously existed in this quality.” From his point of view, the “non-solidarity behavior” could lead to the recommendation in his committees: “We are out of the cartel at the next tender!” You have to have actually been asking themselves since last week where we actually want to steer.
According to Rummenigge, people like Hans-Joachim Watzke (Dortmund) or the interim bosses Axel Hellmann (Eintracht Frankfurt) or Oliver Leki (SC Freiburg) “tore their ass off” to “show perspectives, develop visions”. What will certainly not happen is that the DFL will now take out a loan and a serious club like FC Bayern will be held under general liability.
International competitiveness of the league at risk
From the point of view of the Uefa executive member, the international competitiveness of the league is seriously endangered anyway. “We are catastrophically positioned in foreign marketing. We used to have a forecast of 850 million euros – now we are at 160. The money is missing in every coffers TV market in Germany does not appear rosy. The distribution struggles will increase.”
Such powerful speeches have weight again after Rummenigge was admitted to the Bavarian supervisory board on Tuesday to fill the power vacuum after the sacking at board level. He actually enjoyed retirement and also distanced himself from the business, but: “When Uli Hoeneß’s faithful dog eyes look at you, it’s hard to say no. I had to calm my wife down a bit. But she still understands.”
Full confidence in Dreesen as the new Bayern CEO
His job is not operational. Hoeneß and he would “get involved a bit – and then we will withdraw a bit”. The fact that the two alpha animals have to fix it at all, when they had selected, built up and trained their successors, still seems bizarre. Rummenigge now explicitly welcomed the appointment of Jan-Christian Dreesen as the new boss instead of Oliver Kahn.
The former CFO worked “a miracle” not to be in the red in the Corona crisis: “It is his credit that the finances are at such a good level. So he will do a good job.” With his network, his expertise and his influence, he will also help to advance the restructuring of the squad as long as no new sports director is found for Hasan Salihamidzic, who has also been sacked.
Spike against Nagelsmann
He has a German-language solution in mind, with Rummenigge not commenting on any candidates. And if reinforcements from Declan Rice (West Ham) or Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus Turin) are already being traded, for which the sound barrier of 100 million euros could fall, Rummennige pointed out when renovating the squad: “The team is basically good, otherwise she would not have become German champion. As a club, we have to find peace of mind.” Interesting that the ex-boss indirectly criticized the decision for a young coach like Julian Nagelsmann. “I am a friend of experience.”
Rummenigge added: “We have to draw certain conclusions from this season, but we shouldn’t blow hundreds of millions into the transfer market.” Especially since the arms race is dangerous: “The Premier League is driving us crazy. I see no end to the fact that this dominance from England is driving us further and further.” Football has a fundamental problem: “We are the only industry in the world that is making losses. You work from morning to night for the consultants and players. The Bundesliga cannot keep up in this rat race.”
“I felt sorry for the people in Dortmund”
In the Champions League in particular, FC Bayern could only be competitive if, as with the premier class triumphs in 2013 and 2020, you quickly become a unit again: “the board, the coaches, the players.” Help view because it is still “the most honest title”.
He didn’t expect the bowl to go to Munich for the eleventh time either. “We offered, we offered too much.” The native of Lippstadt bit back any malice in the direction of the failed rival and admitted: “I felt sorry for the people in Dortmund.” with great applause.