A fan crisis awaits Bundesliga leaders once full-capacity crowds are allowed back into stadiums
28 June 2020

Bundesliga organisers are locked in a heavy dispute with hardcore German supporters over radical protests against Hoffenheim's ex-president, Dietmar Hopp.
The so-called "50+1" rule, which puts fans in control of clubs and resists foreign investor takeovers, is at the heart of the dispute.
For a long time, and in accordance with the 50+1 rule, the DFL and DFB gave German Ultras carte blanche to stage their radical protests inside stadiums - instead of banning them.
Bundesliga organisers met with fan representatives before the coronavirus crisis but failed to reach a solution.
While most international football has been under lockdown restrictions for an extended period and domestic leagues suspended due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, football leaders within the DFB (German Football Federation) and DFL (German Football League) are facing another huge challenge once the Bundesliga kicks back into action - the prospect of full stadiums in a not-so-distant future will likely bring problems of its own.
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