Football: Watzke re -elected at DFL – confidence by Chancellor’s word

Hans-Joachim Watzke scourged the English “excesses” on the transfer market, warned to better promote talent in Germany and gratefully accepted the submission of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. His CDU party friend had clearly spoken out on the eve of Watzke’s re-election at the DFL for the 50+1 regulation as a special feature in German football.

“We should do everything we can to ensure that 50+1 is preserved,” said Watzke at the General Assembly shortly before his unanimous confirmation as Presidium spokesman for the German Football League. “50+1 guarantees that the whole society will continue to participate in football and that is the elementary of our folk sports for me.” Almost pleaded Watzke in the large ballroom of a noble Berlin hotel the good relationship with Merz, who sees itself as the “part of the Bundesliga”.

Chancellor Merz: “Stay a supporter of this rule”

The DFL can use political support well. The Bundeskartellamt had asked the league association to improve improvements when examining the 50+1 rule. The authority said that the DFL must ensure a legally secure application of the rule in the future. The rule indicates that investors cannot adopt a majority of votes on the corporations of associations.

Merz had clearly spoken out for the previous regulation. “I am and will remain a supporter of this rule, knowing which restrictions are associated with it,” said the CDU federal chairman. “I think this solution is good as it is today.”

Watzke sees “a certain influence” through support

Watzke described this as “helpful”. “I think if the Chancellor clearly comments in his speech Pro 50+1, then I am very happy and then it has a certain influence on the political discussions – ultimately the antitrust office.”

So far there are exceptions for VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. However, the antitrust office had pointed out that, according to the case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), it no longer seemed possible to “provide permanent existing protection on the conditions proposed so far”. The necessary coordination of the clubs on the new regulation at a general meeting had to be postponed several times. As the “kicker” recently reported, the deadline for statements by the DFL and the clubs concerned was extended until mid -October.

A personnel with explosiveness

Watzke remains one of the most powerful men in German football. At the DFL general meeting, he was confirmed by the representatives of the 36 professional clubs from the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga with 36 votes without opposing candidates. According to the statutes, he is still chairman of the DFL GmbH supervisory board. At BVB, Watzke is leaving as managing director in autumn and is aiming for the traditional club’s presidency at the general meeting in November.

In addition to the consistently unanimous elections for the further posts, there was also a personnel with an explosiveness. Bayer Leverkusen’s managing director Fernando Carro was named for the supervisory board. In this way, a representative of one of the exceptions from the 50+1 rule in German football, for which the Federal Cartel Office had requested improvements, is in the committee. Carro also received all the votes, his possible opposite candidates had withdrawn after meetings the evening before.

Stagnation in international TV income

One of the biggest challenges for the DFL will be the international competitiveness of clubs. “This is now painted in the blackest colors from all sides that the Premier League is crushed,” said Watzke. “I don’t want to deny that there are a few excesses that now have a high dynamic.”

But one thing is particularly bothered by one, emphasized Watzke: “The English have significantly more money than we do. But they often throw it idiotically out of the window. But they have a lot more talents than we do.” This abundance of talented players between the ages of 16 and 18 had also existed in Germany. “We have to start there.”

In addition, income from international business is stagnating. According to information from the German Press Agency, the league generates around 218 million euros from the TV contracts for the German press agency-as much as in the past season. The Premier League is widely rushed and almost collects ten times. The Spanish La Liga takes about three times.