Fans threaten Bundesliga clubs with their biggest weapon

The soccer clubs in the DFL have cleared the way for a strategic partner. Many fans do not want to accept this. Coaches are also speaking out. Former Bundesliga goalkeeper Richard Golz is calling for more transparency. This weekend, the focus is particularly on Kiel.

That comes as no surprise. This weekend, many soccer fans want to express their displeasure with the DFL's decision in favor of an investor deal with a boycott. "We are not prepared to stand idly by and watch the sell-out of German soccer. In order to make it clear that the much-vaunted 12th man nationwide is not prepared to be part of the negotiating mass of the DFL deal with dubious investors, we will remain silent for twelve minutes," reads a statement published by several fan groups from Germany's fan scenes.

At the general meeting on Monday, the German Football League received a mandate from the professional clubs to enter into concrete negotiations with a strategic marketing partner. A financial investor is to pay up to one billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenues. The contract is to have a maximum term of 20 years.

If it stays quiet in the stadium for twelve minutes, "it will quickly become noticeable and audible for us," said coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who will take on VfB Stuttgart on Sunday in the chasing clash with FC Bayern. "Both have their justification. The trick is to bring both together," he said at a press conference in Stuttgart. On the one hand, it's 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.

Alonso refers to the soccer jungle

"We respect the tradition historically, but we want to develop German soccer", emphasized colleague Xabi Alonso from league leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen. "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." The Werkself will host Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

The lively fan culture in Germany is a unique selling point, the fans write. "But that is precisely why our participation in the Bundesliga product is also our greatest weapon! We have our share of the value of professional soccer in our own hands," the statement reads. "We see the entry of investors as a fundamental attack on the grassroots-oriented popular sport of soccer in this country. The officials may be able to sell off media rights, but we can still influence our own stake in the Bundesliga product."

Richard Golz: "Clubs and DFL must face up to protests"

The fan scenes announced: "We will collectively pool our resources in the fight against the greed and arbitrariness of the DFL. The managing directors of the league could still stop this disastrous investment project. We will keep a close eye on this path!" In an interview with capital.de, former Bundesliga goalkeeper Richard Golz expressed his understanding for the upcoming protests. "Clubs and the DFL have to face up to this now. There's no point in dealing with the issue defensively," he said. "That's why I don't think much of the fact that the vote was held in secret. In the case of Hannover 96, we are now seeing how this can become a political issue."

Special attention will indeed not only be paid to the Bundesliga matches this weekend, but also to the second division encounter between Holstein Kiel and Hannover 96 on Saturday (20:30/Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de) .

The visitors from the capital of Lower Saxony presented themselves as a hopelessly divided bunch in the days following the secret ballot. In the close vote in favor of the investor, the decisive vote most likely came from Hannover 96, which was represented at the DFL meeting by majority shareholder Martin Kind, who had instructed the 79-year-old to vote against the deal. However, according to the names of the clubs that are said to have voted no, there are serious doubts as to whether Kind did so.

"It probably won't be clarified, but it does put a strain on the whole issue, including 50+1. I think we need as much transparency as possible, and not just now. This is precisely why the vote should not have been held in secret," explained former goalkeeper Golz, getting to the heart of the matter.