There aren’t many certainties at VfB Stuttgart these days. But two things are inviolably certain. Firstly: As things stand, “Fritzle”, a cheerful plush crocodile, survived the trench warfare well and will continue to act as a mascot in the future. Secondly: Trench warfare in question offers surprising twists every day. In the middle of the week, the one that is currently being clicked on very frequently was decorated Club homepage a “Statement from the President and the Association’s Advisory Board” – the next level of escalation, which could have far-reaching consequences.
In this statement, the signatories around President Claus Vogt, 54, raised the question of whether “VfB really still belongs to its members”. “Unfortunately, the events of Tuesday and the press release that was not coordinated with the club paint a different picture,” it said. The vote also raises questions regarding the 50+1 rule, which is actually supposed to guarantee the club side the decisive say in German football. “The influence of the eV on the supervisory board” is “significantly weakened” and the entire procedure surrounding the deselection is “legally questionable”.
The entrepreneur Vogt is at the center of the power struggle at VfB. He is president of the registered association (eV) and for a long time was also chairman of the supervisory board of the AG, under whose umbrella the professional football department runs. But a few days ago he was removed from power as chairman of the AG supervisory board and replaced by the former environment minister Tanja Gönner. This also, but not only, has to do with the entry of the new investor Porsche, who insisted on “a new beginning on the supervisory board”, “with a new chairman of the supervisory board, who should ideally come from among the AR members appointed by the eV”.
The advisory board criticizes the fact that the new list was not voted on at a general meeting
A statement from the new majority on the AG supervisory board also appeared on the club’s homepage, which Vogt publicly dismissed. Now he launched a counterattack – with the support of the advisory board, but not in the name of the entire executive board. Since the professional football department was spun off in 2017, for which almost 85 percent of members voted, the club president has also been head of the supervisory board. Now he is no longer that – and, like the advisory board, criticizes the fact that the new direction was not voted on at a general meeting. Instead, “facts were created with the alleged deselection of the eV president as chairman of the supervisory board, the presidential committee and head of the AG general meeting without any involvement of the members.”
In addition to the allegations regarding the content, a message about the alleged style is also likely to cause outrage. Accordingly, an attempt was made to persuade Vogt to “voluntarily” resign from office “for health or private reasons”. Which “of course” wasn’t an option for him.
In addition, it’s not just Vogt who is polarizing – but also the new chairwoman of the supervisory board, Tanja Gönner. The former Environment Minister is remembered in many places as a prominent supporter of the major project “Stuttgart 21”, which was discussed with quasi-religious fervor in Stuttgart and is still controversial today. And it is obvious that the investor side and the new chairwoman are treating the club base with great skepticism.
Things are complicated in this Stuttgart power struggle. And one thing is clear: the dispute will continue.