Freiburg CFO
Leki sees DFL “insufficiently prepared” for the future
In the meantime, managed the DFL business: Oliver Leki. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
After the failed investor entry, the former interim managing director Oliver Leki does not see the German Football League as well positioned for the future.
After the failed investor entry, the former interim managing director Oliver Leki sees the German football league not well positioned for the future.
“Basically, the business model of the DFL is insufficiently prepared for rapidly changing media markets, progressive digitization and changing media usage behavior. The latter is particularly evident among young people,” said Leki of the “Badische Zeitung”.
Therefore, he would have found it right to hold concrete talks with possible strategic partners in order to further develop the DFL central marketing, explained the CFO of the Bundesliga club SC Freiburg. “A door was closed prematurely without having any real alternatives.” The problems are therefore not solved.
No majority for investor
At the DFL general meeting in May, there was not the required two-thirds majority among the clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga for an investor to get involved. Eleven clubs voted against, five abstained.
Even if the fundamental question is now being discussed as to whether an association with 36 clubs makes sense at all because of the sometimes different interests, he remains optimistic, said Leki. The 50-year-old had temporarily managed the DFL together with Axel Hellmann, spokesman for the board of Eintracht Frankfurt. Marc Lenz and Steffen Merkel have been the new managing directors since July 1st.
Leki interview Badische Zeitung