Bochum's Asano nibbles on protest chocolate and scores

Fans are very angry about the Bundesliga's investor deal. Protests are taking place in all stadiums. However, unlike the day before in Paderborn, they remain peaceful. Bochum's Asano is delighted with a thrown chocolate coin and then scores.

The fans openly vented their anger and frustration after the agreement for an investor deal. From a boycott to tennis balls and chocolate coins thrown onto the pitch, as well as abusive chants, pyros and a clear message to the German Football League (DFL) on banners in all Bundesliga stadiums: "We will not be part of your deal - fuck the DFL!". The fact that the 36 professional clubs gave the DFL the mandate to enter into concrete negotiations with a strategic marketing partner with the necessary majority last Monday triggered the expected and in some cases already announced reactions, particularly in the organized fan scene.

In Bochum, VfL's match against 1. FC Union Berlin had to be interrupted. After twelve minutes, fans of the already extremely traditional Eisernen from the east of Berlin had thrown tennis balls and - in keeping with the pre-Christmas period - chocolate coins onto the pitch.

While Bochum's attacking player Takuma Asano enjoyed one of the sweet treats, referee Sven Jablonski interrupted the game for four minutes until the pitch was cleared of the objects. The Japanese player later scored the opening goal for Bochum in stoppage time of the first half in a 3:0 (1:0) win against Union. A direct link between the chocolate taler and the goal could not be proven. However, it was a nice story surrounding the peaceful protests by the fans on Saturday.

Protests at all Bundesliga stadiums

Chocolate talers also flew onto the pitch at the SV Darmstadt match, but the game against VfL Wolfsburg was interrupted because pyrotechnics had been set off in the visitors' block. As elsewhere, it was not only the DFL that was criticized. "Our vote should have prevented the DFL investor," read a poster from the Darmstadt fans.

At the 1:1 (1:1) draw between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund, fans of both teams also protested against the planned entry of investors into the DFL. "No to investors in the DFL!" was the message on a flyer distributed by Augsburg fans before the match. "A different kind of soccer is possible, it just has to be wanted." In the stadium, both fan scenes unfurled banners with the identical statement: "We will not be part of your deal - fuck the DFL!"

Sebastian Hoeneß: "A fine line"

In the end, the necessary two-thirds majority was achieved in the vote. A financial investor is to pay up to one billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenue. The contract is to have a maximum term of 20 years.

"Both have their justification. The trick is to bring both together," VfB Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß emphasized on Friday. On the one hand, it is about not losing touch with international soccer, but "definitely not losing contact" with the fans, who are "all-important". "It's a fine line." You have to listen very carefully to what the fans' concerns are.

"We have fans in Leverkusen, but also in Spain, Argentina and Japan. We have to have a perspective, to keep the tradition, but also to develop a vision, because we are fighting in a soccer jungle, with La Liga, Premier League, Liga A and Serie A," stressed fellow Bayer 04 Leverkusen leader Xabi Alonso. Both teams will get to experience the fans' reactions first hand this Sunday when VfB face FC Bayern and Bayer host Eintracht Frankfurt.

Protests escalate in Paderborn on Friday

Protests had already taken place on Friday. After twelve minutes of the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach, the supporters ended their previous demonstrative silence by shouting "Shit DFL" and throwing fake money onto the pitch. The match against SV Werder Bremen was also interrupted for a few minutes.

The second division match between SC Paderborn and Hansa Rostock even had to be interrupted twice. There were also serious fan riots. An unprecedented number of Hansa supporters and police officers are said to have been injured. In the first twelve minutes, with the fans acting as the "twelfth man", it remained quiet in many Bundesliga and 2nd division stadiums.

Sky expert Dietmar Hamann expressed understanding for the DFL's decision. "We have maintained 50+1 for many years. You have to look at what's happening in England, Italy and France. There are private investors there. At some point, we have to open up in some way. I think the alternative would have been for the first league to separate from the second league if it hadn't gone through," said Hamann. Above all, he hopes for more professionalization, especially with regard to foreign marketing.