The protests against the possible entry of investors into the DFL are becoming clearer. How do the fans justify the protest? How should the referees react? And what happens next in the coming weeks?
Why is the protest getting stronger?
On the match days after the vote, many fans threw golden chocolate coins onto the field in an ironic protest, later adding more sweets and bouncy balls – there were only short interruptions in the games. The second division game between Hannover 96 and Hansa Rostock had to be interrupted eleven times. In the game between Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV, a long interruption was caused by the throwing of numerous tennis balls; the game was suspended for 32 minutes.
The Hertha ultra group “Harlekins Berlin ’98” wrote in a statement that they had opted for a “particularly long, particularly boring and particularly strenuous form of protest.” The reason: “People in Germany seem to have quickly gotten used to short protests and short interruptions.” The fan groups want to prevent the protest from being practically “seen out”.
When do referees have to stop a game?
“There are no clear guidelines for this in terms of minutes or the number of interruptions,” says Alex Feuerherdt, spokesman for the DFB referees, in an interview with the Sportschau: “The referees should act prudently. The cancellation should only be the last resort, if all other options have been exhausted.” The referees should only stop if it becomes clear that a continuation is not possible. “In Berlin there was apparently a signal from the curve to those in charge at Hertha that the fans didn’t want to bring about a break,” says Feuerherdt.
Referee Daniel Schlager (r.) with Hertha’s coach Pal Dardai
The referees are not completely alone when it comes to the question of a cancellation. In addition to the clubs, the security officer and the police would also be involved. “An example: If the police say that a demolition in front of the stadium will cause problems, the referee cannot be completely indifferent to that,” says Feuerherdt.
Alex Feuerherdt, media spokesman for DFB Schiri GmbH
Will the clubs involved be punished?
In the DFB’s legal and procedural system, clubs are generally held responsible for the behavior of their supporters. If the game is abandoned, a game score against a team would be possible. Also conceivable: If both fan camps cause the game to be canceled at the same time, the statutes also provide for a scoring against both teams – so there would be two losing teams in the game. In response to Sportschau’s request, the DFB announced that “the DFB Control Committee has initiated investigations into all games in which the throwing of objects onto the field led to game interruptions or which were reported by the referee or a safety supervisor.”
Tennis balls on the pitch at Hannover 96 against Hansa Rostock
In the cases that have occurred so far, fines may result. The penalty guidelines for the DFB Control Committee stipulate a penalty of 1,000 euros for each thrown object in the Bundesliga and 600 euros in the 2nd Bundesliga. If the interruption lasts five minutes, the fine is doubled; if the perpetrators are identified, the penalty can be reduced.
Does the throw of each tennis ball now cost the clubs 600 or 1,000 euros? Probably not, because the sentencing guidelines allow for deviations – in “cases that are not suitable for standardized treatment”. The DFB announced that such cases had been treated in this way by the DFB’s sports jurisdiction in the past. This means that each chocolate coin would not have to be counted, punished and paid for individually.
Why are so many organized fan scenes protesting?
The possible entry of an investor into the German Football League (DFL) is viewed critically by most organized fan scenes. They object to further commercialization of football in Germany and possible investor influence.
Tennis balls on the field in the game between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum
The fans also criticize the process of the secret vote, which resulted in the smallest necessary majority. There is also criticism that the 50+1 rule has been undermined, as Martin Kind, as managing director of Hannover 96, may have voted “yes” even though Hannover 96 eV had instructed him to reject it. The organized fan scenes also point out the origin of the money in the private equity companies that are the financiers. For example, they are also financed by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund.
The protest is now having an impact. Claus Vogt, President of VfB Stuttgart, called for a repeat of the vote on the entry of an investor into the DFL on Tuesday (February 7, 2024).
What does the DFL say about the protests?
The DFL has not yet commented on the fan protests. After the vote in December, DFL managing director Steffen Merkel assured, referring to critical banners in the curves, that he and his co-managing director would “handle the mandate in a trusting manner”.
Merkel added: “We responded specifically to the criticism from fan circles by designing the proposal, which contains red lines.” With the “red lines”, the DFL leadership repeatedly assured that an investor may never influence sporting issues such as new kick-off times, games abroad or a change in the mode. Fan alliances pointed out that at least an “informal influence” would be possible. The DFL leadership pointed out that it was not selling any shares, but was only allowing the lender to share in the proceeds for a limited period of time.
Why does the DFL want the investor?
The 36 clubs largely agree that the DFL needs to develop further. The goal is more digitalization, better transmission technology, an offer for younger target groups and growth abroad. There was disagreement before the vote in December about how the necessary measures should be financed.
The clubs approved the investor model with just the necessary majority, other suggestions revolved around loans, the sale of the Bundesliga name or financing using existing funds. The general conditions stipulate that the investor receives eight percent of the marketing revenue for 20 years. The DFL is to receive one billion euros in return. The DFL’s hope is that revenue will increase overall and the deal will be worthwhile for both sides.
According to the DFL, two potential investors are still in the running: CVC and Blackstone. According to DFL managing director Marc Lenz, the talks are in a “critical” and “decisive phase”.
How are the protests against the DFL investor continuing?
The Fan Scenes Alliance of Germany, which organized protest match days across leagues, announced in December that the issue was not yet over for them. In a statement in mid-January, the alliance said: “We will not let up and are ready to fight against further sell-outs and negative external influences on our football.” The alliance brings together a large part of the ultra groups from numerous clubs in several leagues in Germany.
The Berlin ultra group “Harlekins” – itself part of Germany’s fan scene – promised that similar protests would continue. Given the duration of the protests, they would “not feel bound to the ideas of editors, club officials or DFL representatives in the future.” The message: Protest can only have an impact if it becomes visible.
Chocolate thalers on a football field
Have there already been similar protests?
In 2018, fans of Eintracht Frankfurt protested against Monday games in the Bundesliga by throwing numerous tennis balls. The DFB imposed a fine at the time, but as a whole package for several offenses. The DFL abolished Monday games in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga in 2021.
Fan protests against Monday games (2018)
At the beginning of 2020, there were protests by active fan groups against Hoffenheim’s main shareholder at the time, Dietmar Hopp. The highlight was a game between Hoffenheim and FC Bayern, when the referee interrupted the game several times because of offensive posters.
It later became known that the DFB and the clubs had already known about the insults in advance and that the reactions had probably been agreed accordingly. However, the coronavirus pandemic ended the discussion about it. The numerous procedures and investigations at the DFB Control Committee and the DFB Sports Court were discontinued – out of consideration for the clubs’ finances during the pandemic, as the DFB announced at the time.