Union Berlin President Slams Clubs Over Investor Challenge
The 35 professional soccer clubs in Germany, including Union Berlin, are set to vote on the potential investment in German soccer clubs. However, this decision has sparked anger and confusion among the clubs. Union Berlin's president, Dirk Zingler, has expressed concerns, stating it could be financially detrimental if clubs decide based on their "envy" of others.
In a letter to the German Football League and the other 35 clubs, Zingler urged for postponement of the vote, criticizing the process and the behavior of other clubs. He advocated for establishing a broad consensus and developing a strong position among all parties involved instead of allowing investors based on the lowest common denominator.
Zingler cautioned against investing wisely due to the clubs' "small-mindedness and mutual envy," which has prevented them from making the right decisions in the past. He described the situation in the spring as a result of jealousy, preventing clubs from moving forward with intelligent investments. He also criticized the objection to a revised model related to its economic benefits. Unfortunately, this new vote comes "at the wrong time."
Critics' Points
Union Berlin also objected to the reduced revenue share compared to the rejected proposal, pointing out that a potential partner would pay less now than in the spring. Zingler argued that 1% revenue share for 20 years now costs a potential partner around 112 million euros, which was much higher (up to 176 million euros) in the spring.
The DFL general meeting is scheduled to vote on a possible strategic marketing partnership on Monday. The fans have already voiced their concerns, protesting against a similar proposal that was rejected in May. Their objections to the partnership center around unfavorable financial terms and concerns about the impact of multi-club ownership and investor-driven revenue models as detrimental to the cultural significance and social anchoring of soccer.
Enrichment Data Insights:
- Union Berlin's President, Dirk Zingler, worries about the potential financial burden that new investors might impose on clubs and the long-term financial sustainability of the club.
- He is also keen on preserving the traditional ownership structure, emphasizing the democratic and community-oriented ownership model.
- Zingler advocates for compliance with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations to prevent clubs from spending more than they earn.
- The influx of new investors could distort the market dynamics, creating an uneven playing field and potentially undermining opportunities for smaller clubs to compete.
- He also emphasizes the importance of protecting the social responsibility that clubs have towards their communities and maintaining their cultural roots.
