DFL investors
1. FC Cologne for new vote – support from Gladbach
In the past few weeks there have been numerous protests against investors entering the Bundesliga. photo
© Uwe Anspach/dpa
Fan protests against investor involvement in the DFL are also expected this weekend. In the debate, there are more and more clubs calling for a new vote.
1. FC Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach have been involved in the debate about investor entry German Football League (DFL) advocates another vote.
The Cologne team submitted their request in a letter to the DFL executive committee, as the Bundesliga club confirmed on Friday. There is support from Rhenish rival Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The decision of December 11, 2023 for a negotiation and conclusion mandate stands “on a very fragile foundation,” wrote the FC management in a letter that was also sent to the 35 other clubs organized in the DFL. “sportschau.de” first reported on this. “The allegations in the room, in particular a possible violation of the 50+1 rule, must be dispelled,” said the club statement. This rule essentially prevents investors from having a majority of votes in the corporations of associations.
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 protest at games, primarily by throwing objects.
Secret voting causes trouble
The people of Cologne referred to a narrow majority, the lack of public support and open legal questions and 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.
There was indirect criticism of the voting process from Mönchengladbach. “We didn’t have to vote secretly, we would have agreed to an open election and we never made a secret about how we voted,” said Gladbach’s managing director Stephan Schippers. “But if it is above all this point at which tempers are so at loggerheads, then we have no problem voting again on whether we want to release the DFL Presidium from the final mandate given in December – and this vote openly , transparent and comprehensible for everyone.” Before Cologne and Gladbach, other clubs had already called for another vote.