Investor deal - Union president Zingler: "Fucking DFL" wrong addressee
Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler has confirmed that he is generally open to investors in German soccer - as long as the type of deal is right.
"We as Union are not fundamentally against investors in soccer for ideological reasons, because we ourselves are a club that has repeatedly invested in all its divisions with outside capital for 20 years. 1. FC Union Berlin is a story of courageous investors," said Zingler in an interview with the Bundesliga club.
Union Berlin was not one of the 24 first and second division clubs that gave their approval for the planned entry of an investor to the German Football League (DFL ) in mid-December. "We voted against this type of investor deal because we don't think it's good for the league. Because we believe that we are making a decision for a period of 20 years that we cannot yet foresee," explained Zingler and added in general: "I am very clearly against investors who are purely interested in returns. I am against multi-club ownership. I am against investors who actually change our soccer."
Partner to pay one billion euros
After months of campaigning, the DFL's top management received the mandate to enter into negotiations for a strategic partnership with an external investor. The new partner is to pay one billion euros for a percentage share of the TV revenue. The contract is to have a maximum term of 20 years and be signed by the start of the 2024/25 season. A large part of the revenue is to be used to further develop the DFL business model and, in particular, strengthen international marketing.
The decision had recently been heavily criticized by fans. "I also appeal once again to this term"fucking DFL" in the protests. It's once again blurred, because basically the DFL employees didn't make the decision and neither did Mr. Lenz and Mr. Merkel as managing directors. It was decided by the clubs. So if it says "Shit DFL", that's once again the wrong addressee," said Zingler.
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- Despite being open to investors in German soccer, Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler expressed his displeasure with the German Football League (DFL), referring to them as "fucking DFL" due to their wrong addressing in a planned investor deal.
- Zingler clarified his stance, stating that Union Berlin is a testament to courageous investors but opposed the idea of investors solely focused on returns, multi-club ownership, or altering soccer.
- Initially, 1. FC Union Berlin was not among the 24 first and second division clubs thatsupported the entry of an investor into the DFL, as they deemed it detrimental to the league.
- In response to criticism from fans, Zingler emphasized that the fault lies not with the DFL employees or managing directors, but with the clubs themselves, and referred back to the misdirected "Shit DFL" slogan.
- Media outlets reported that a potential partner is set to pay one billion euros for a portion of the TV revenue, with a 20-year deal on the table, aiming to improve the DFL business model and international marketing.
- The CDU/CSU, a major political party in Germany, has expressed its support for the investor deal, which has sparked debate among soccer fans and critics across the country.
- With the 2024/25 season fast approaching, Union Berlin fans and supporters from Berlin will closely monitor the developments surrounding the DFL's entry of an investor and its potential impact on German soccer.
Source: www.stern.de
