The Bundesliga is looking for outside investors, despite fan opposition

The German Football League (DFL), combining the first and second bundesligafind the one external inverterdespite opposition from organized fan groups, who fear it will lead to the destruction of their football culture.

The plan is to establish a subsidiary that deals with broadcasting rights where a 12.5 percent will be sold to an external investor for the next 20 years, during which it is intended to derive income from 2 billion of euros.

Representatives of the 36 clubs of the first and second Bundesliga must decide on May 24 on the project, whose approval requires a majority of two thirds.

In anticipation of that moment, the DFL’s administrative director, Axel Hellmanand the president of the Supervisory Board, Hans Joachim Watzkemet with representatives of fan groups to try discard The concern that exists.

Helmann, at a meeting in Dortmund, said it was not about forcing bigger football marketing or to try to emulate the Premier League but the modernize the sale of rights and increase competitiveness.

“It can be compared to the roof of a house that has leakage. We have one good construction that works for years but you have to work on some thingsnot on the foundation, but on the roof that is leakage“, said.

“Internationally there are some who don’t left, We have to do something,” he added.

watzkeFor his part, he said that he spent twenty years fighting for the maintenance of 50+1 rule -which requires that the partners have at least 51 percent of votes on the decisions of the clubs, except exceptions– currently allows the entry of a “Trojan horse” that increases the investor influence.

within concern of groups of fans it has a bigger one time difference start of each day’s matches.

The DFL was recently forced to cancel Monday matches for resistance of fan groups.

In this regard, Helman said that the DFL could have varied the schedules, which however it had not done and would not do with the arrival of a investor.