Are there imminent plans for the Bundesliga to play matches overseas?
Could the Bundesliga soon have matches overseas? FIFA is considering allowing regular games outside national borders for the first time, potentially sparking pushback from fans. This move has already upset the fan base, with the threat of more significant protests on the horizon.
FC Bayern confronts Dortmund in Singapore, RB Leipzig competes against Bayer Leverkusen in New York, and Heidenheim bests Kiel in Riyadh - this could be the future of the Bundesliga, if FIFA has its way. The international soccer organization is exploring the possibility of permitting international competitions for the first time. Emulating the NFL model, the major European leagues could stand to gain immensely through globalization.
"FIFA's evil plan endangers and disrupts domestic soccer," fumed the umbrella organization Football Supporters Europe, which includes Germany's Unsere Kurve: "We don't want to follow our clubs across the world. They need to be part of our communities - that's where they belong."
A Key Decision on the Horizon
FIFA appears to hold a different opinion. The Council, including DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, wishes to establish a working group that could potentially overturn the foreign ban, a rule until now enforced by national associations and confederations. FIFA announced this plan just prior to the start of its congress in Bangkok, Thailand.
The working group, consisting of 10-15 members, will scrutinize the idea and propose a course of action. Ten factors are considered crucial in this process. They include the potential effect on the fans and the integrity of the competition. A resolution should be forthcoming in the near future.
FIFA is taking this step in response to recent developments in the US. The ban on foreign matches came under legal scrutiny last month. Relevent, a marketing firm organizing test matches for Spanish clubs in North America, filed an antitrust lawsuit challenging the rule. FIFA and Relevent subsequently agreed to reassess the rules in place.
Premier League and La Liga Stakeholders Benefit
Matches in North America, the Middle East, and Asia hold great appeal to the leagues, particularly in a marketing context. In cup competitions, the Spanish and Italian leagues have already experimented with this model. Both leagues currently hold their Super Cups in Saudi Arabia, while France intends to do so in South Korea this summer.
The English Premier League and Spanish La Liga stand to gain significantly by offering their fans regular international matches. The leagues have long considered organizing such events but have only been able to provide select clubs with pre-season tours thus far.
The German Football League (DFL) has been attempting to increase internationalization for years. So far, this has merely involved more test match trips for Bundesliga clubs. Should the DFL actually program foreign games, anticipated fan protests are likely to be as vicious as those triggered by the failed deal with investors. Former DFL leader Donata Hopfen sparked outrage over two years ago when she refused to rule out holding the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
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Source: www.ntv.de
