Bundesliga
“Legal certainty”: Cologne insists on new DFL vote
Cologne’s managing director Christian Keller advocates a new vote on the planned investor entry into the DFL. photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
Concerns about the plans for investors to join the German Football League (DFL) are growing. Along with other clubs, 1. FC Köln is again calling for a new vote – for various reasons.
Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln has submitted its proposal for a further vote on investor entry German Football League (DFL) is mainly due to the lack of legal certainty of the DFL plans.
“First and foremost, our aim is to ensure legal certainty and acceptance. As is well known, there are suspicions that the vote at the DFL general meeting was not legally effective due to Hannover 96’s voting behavior and, as a result, a violation of the 50+1 rule exists. These suspicions must be completely dispelled,” said sports director Christian Keller in an interview with the Geissblog.
According to Keller’s assessment, “a potential collaboration between the federal leagues and a private equity company is a major cultural challenge and not really in line with the essence of German professional football as a public cultural asset.” Therefore, it must be “clearly and understandably communicated why the deal is necessary from the perspective of the majority of clubs.”
The controversial role of Martin Kind
The DFL wants to collect one billion euros from a financial investor for a percentage share of the TV revenue. When the 36 professional clubs voted on the deal, the necessary two-thirds majority was only barely achieved. Due to the controversial role of managing director Martin Kind of second division team Hannover 96, there is suspicion that the vote could have violated the 50+1 rule.
Numerous fans are also protesting at games this weekend, primarily by throwing objects. “The fan protests are a direct result of the existing legal suspicions, the described football cultural challenge and the poor communication with the base so far,” commented Keller.
On Friday, the people of Cologne announced a motion to “exempt the DFL Presidium from the final mandate issued by the general meeting.” The decision about investor involvement should fall back to the clubs. If an extraordinary general meeting is required for this, the FC will also request this.
“With the targeted private equity deal, we are talking about one of the most relevant decisions since the introduction of the Bundesliga. In 20 years – that’s how long the deal is supposed to last – hardly any of today’s decision-makers will be there anymore. This makes all of our responsibilities all the greater. to put something so far-reaching on a broad basis,” said Keller.