25 May 2023 - 7:36 PM
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IMAGO | FC Hansa Rostock fans during a 2. Bundesliga match against newly Bundesliga-promoted SV Darmstadt 98.
The collapsed DFL private equity deal: “The failure highlights the governance issues we have in German football”
- The deal - which should have brought €2 billion to German football – collapsed despite the DFL board’s hard work to find a compromise prior to the voting process. Some club CEOs said they couldn’t vote before consulting with their fans.
- This is the second time in a few years that a deal has collapsed – and the obvious question is: Why should this lengthy, thorough process happen in the first place, when so many clubs are fundamentally against getting involved with foreign investors?
- Why it matters: Within the last few years, LaLiga and Ligue 1 have secured billions in broadcasting deals. Yesterday, the 36 members of DFL blocked a similar deal. But how do German clubs keep pace with rival leagues without investing in their product?
- The perspective: Exactly 31 years ago, 20 clubs from the Football League First Division in England decided to form a breakaway competition. But despite massive disappointment yesterday, few believe the same could happen in German football.
They decided to delay the voting process.
After the first part of the meeting, which began at 11.30 at the Sheraton Hotel near Frankfurt airport, the DFL supervisory board was in no doubt that if it chose to proceed with the initial proposal, it would fail.
The board had to secure 24 yes-votes, which would hand it the mandate to continue more detailed negotiations with a few pr
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