German football league drops plan to sell Bundesliga stake after fan protests
The German football league, which runs the Bundesliga, has abandoned plans to sell a stake in its media rights income to an outside investor after months of increasingly disruptive protests by fans. The league, known as the DFL, said its board had decided not to proceed with the deal.
The private equity investor CVC Capital Partners was the only remaining prospective buyer for a 20-year slice of broadcast and sponsorship revenue in return for an upfront payment.
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Protests by fans throwing objects on to pitches have caused lengthy stoppages at games for weeks since the clubs in the top two men’s divisions voted in December to go ahead with talks on the investment plan. Fans have used remote-controlled cars and planes to stop games and in one case attaching bicycle locks to a goalpost.
A spokesperson for the DFL executive committee, Hans-Joachim Watzke, said: “In view of current developments, a successful continuation of the process no longer seems possible.
“Even if there is a large majority in favour of the entrepreneurial necessity of the strategic partnership, German professional football is in the midst of a crucial test, which is causing major disputes not only within the league association between the clubs, but in some cases also within the clubs between professionals, coaches, club officials, supervisory bodies, members’ associations and fan communities, which are increasingly jeopardising match operations, specific match schedules and thus the integrity of the competition.”