At an extraordinary meeting held in Frankfurt on Wednesday, the DFL eV Executive Board unanimously decided not to continue with plans to negotiate a marketing partnership with the private equity firm.
Commenting on the decision, Hans-Joachim Watzke, spokesperson for the DFL eV Executive Board, said: “Given the current developments, it seems no longer possible to continue the process successfully. Even if the majority Even advocating for entrepreneurial needs, German professional football is in the midst of an important test when it comes to strategic partnerships, not only between clubs within league associations, but also in some cases within clubs. But it is causing major disputes between professionals, coaches, club officials and governing bodies. Member associations and fan communities are increasingly putting the integrity of match operations, specific match schedules and, ultimately, competitions at risk. Considering the situation of the League Association, which has 36 member clubs, the feasibility of concluding the deal is as follows: Funding for the 36 clubs can no longer be guaranteed.
“After considering all legal aspects, the Executive Committee has concluded that no further vote will resolve the issue. The starting point is a vote on December 11, 2023, which will result in a two-thirds vote. “resulting in a majority of respondents supporting the final decision,” the mandate to the executive committee, which is considered legally valid, according to members of the executive committee and legal experts. However, it cannot be denied that this vote has not been widely accepted due to the events surrounding Hannover 96. “We hold fast to the 50+1 rule and it must not be ignored. The DFL Executive Committee is unanimous in favor of the 50+1 rule. No new vote will take place for the purpose of It has not been questioned or challenged and risks creating new legal issues and even disputes. Avoiding this and returning to orderly game management must be the main objective of his DFL.
“Accordingly, the Executive Committee has unanimously reached the conclusion that, pursuant to the resolution of December 11, 2023, it will exercise its discretion not to proceed with the process and draw no conclusion.DFL Executive Committee and Management will invite clubs to a consultation in the coming weeks to jointly discuss the implications of this process.”
