FC Augsburg's Stance on DFL Investor Decision
During the German Football League's (DFL) investor vote, FC Augsburg's managing director, Michael Ströll, expressed a nuanced view. Ströll, while acknowledging the vote's significance for German soccer's future, explained the club's abstention due to the desire for a more extensive and mindful discussion (As reported in "Augsburger Allgemeine"). The vote resulted in a majority of 18 first and second division clubs supporting the investment, including FC Bayern, who championed the DFL's ability to blend tradition and vision with financial support and expertise.
Meanwhile, 1. FC Nürnberg expressed concerns about the process, while SpVgg Greuther Fürth wholeheartedly supported the decision. The investment aims to secure German football's future with a potential financial investor paying up to one billion euros for a share of TV revenues, as reported by Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
Influence of German Football's "50+1 Rule"
The 50+1 rule is essential in the context of DFL's investor decisions, ensuring club members retain overall control. Originally, football clubs were entirely owned by members' associations, maintaining a not-for-profit status. However, in 1998, the German Football Association allowed the conversion of football teams into public or private limited companies. The 50+1 rule was then introduced to protect club members' interests, requiring a minimum 50% share of voting rights for the parents' club.
Exceptions to the rule exist for those who have substantially funded clubs for 20 years, allowing them to own controlling stakes. Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg are notable examples, as their ownership stems from parent companies that have funded them since their inception.
Clubs' Perspectives
- FC Augsburg, operating under the 50+1 rule, has not reported any significant changes in ownership or financial struggles.
- FC Bayern Munich, one of Germany's largest clubs, has a majority ownership structure with its parent company FC Bayern Munich AG.
- FC Nürnberg, facing financial struggles and demotion, still operates under the 50+1 rule.
- SpVgg Greuther Fürth, another second-division club, has yet to deviate from the rule in their financial struggles.
Recent Developments
Hertha Berlin, another struggling club, has a consolidated net loss of 33.3 million euros. Despite operating under the 50+1 rule, Hertha Berlin's financial struggles are more rooted in external investments and management decisions. FC Schalke 04 and FC St. Pauli, meanwhile, are exploring the use of cooperatives to secure financing. This move is innovative and allows members to have a shared stake in the profits, even though it may be challenging to apply in the licensed players' section due to the 50+1 rule's requirements.
