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Giogios criticizes the planned sale of Bundesliga rights

Giogios criticizes the planned sale of Bundesliga rights

Christopher Giogios is a lawyer and works for the Dortmund fanzine “schwatzgelb”, which critically follows developments in German football. In the interview, Giogios talks about the planned sale of Bundesliga rights to investors – and how this could change football culture in the country in the long term.

The German Football League (DFL) intends to sell 12.5 percent of the media rights to investors. The term of the deal should be 20 to 30 years, after which the shares sold will revert to the DFL. Several private equity firms have expressed their interest; the DFL expects sales proceeds of up to two billion euros. 45 percent of the money goes to the clubs, which should use it to expand their infrastructure. 40 percent remains with the DFL, which wants to digitize the league and strengthen foreign marketing. The clubs are free to dispose of 15 percent of the sum. On May 24, the DFL management, chaired by Axel Hellmann (Frankfurt) and Oliver Leki (Freiburg), will discuss the planned sale of shares with the Bundesliga clubs. In the fan scene, the project is rejected by a majority. Banners and chants are used to protest in stadiums – many fans fear football will be sold out.

Mr. Giogios, as a Borussia Dortmund fan, shouldn’t you be happy when the DFL sells media rights to investors? More money would come into the club’s treasury – and even stronger players could be brought to BVB.
We fans don’t want success at any price. We have a thoroughly considered relationship with money. What would a one-time payment from the DFL bring? Suddenly more money is spent on player salaries and consultant commissions, so a flash in the pan is lit that quickly goes out again. And what do we give for it? We deliver ourselves to a locust and sell our future.

Christopher Giogios, 31, has been a member of the Borussia Dortmund club since 2009 and works on the “schwatzgelb” fanzine. He is currently working full-time as a legal trainee at the Gießen District Court.

Investor influence would be limited. It is only about a minority stake in the media rights of the Bundesliga. Where are your fears?
For example, I fear that the organization of the matchdays will be influenced. That they are further fragmented, that hardly any games take place at the same time, because you can earn more money with individual marketing.

Axel Hellmann, one of the two DFL managing directors, recently ruled that out. You want to contractually protect yourself against interventions in the game day planning. Do you distrust him?
It is interesting that this phenomenon can already be observed. For the first time since I can remember, all games on the last two matchdays are not kicked off at the same time. A culture break. In the past, people wanted to prevent such a distortion of competition in the struggle for the championship and in the relegation battle. Which is absolutely understandable and correct. And now such concerns appear to be taking a back seat to maximizing profits.

You can reject turbo capitalism in football for good reasons. But it is also clear that the attractiveness of the Bundesliga is in danger of falling further: the stars have long been playing in England, Spain or in France, at Paris St. Germain. Where there is big money to be made. However, you as a fan will probably not like a second-rate Bundesliga. How do you want to resolve this contradiction?
We must not even take part in this rat race that is going on in European football. If missing out on a Champions League title is the price that financially reasonably healthy and member-run clubs have to pay, then we should be prepared to pay it. In any case, I think it’s a nightmare that German clubs aren’t competitive internationally. Paris St. Germain and Manchester City invest insane sums in football – but have never won the Champions League. The calculation according to which a lot of money means successful football is all too simple and wrong at that.

Financial strength is no guarantee of sporting success, but it dramatically increases the likelihood.
That’s right. Only: What would additional DFL money change in the Bundesliga? The prevailing pecking order with FC Bayern at the top and Dortmund and Leipzig behind would be further consolidated. The distribution should be staggered according to sporting success: whoever is at the top of the table gets a lot. Those who are below get little. This cements the situation. That hurts the competition.

Counter-speech: Football is a global business. It would also benefit VfL Bochum, for example, if they had more money at their disposal because the club could then afford players who might otherwise have switched to the second English division. Because even there you can earn more money than at a middle-class club in the Bundesliga.
The Bundesliga has already lost the battle with the Premier League or La Liga in Spain. The English-speaking area is huge and the Premier League is a global brand. The Spanish league has a strong presence in South America, and the Bundesliga doesn’t have a real chance here either. These are fundamental disadvantages that are difficult to compensate for. Also: There is an exciting championship race in the Premier League, every year anew. In the Bundesliga, on the other hand, FC Bayern has recently won the championship ten times in a row. It’s difficult to market abroad.

What do you think the DFL should do? Simply surrendering to the Premier League shouldn’t be an option.
I miss a vision from the DFL of what the Bundesliga should be like. What story are we telling? What makes us special? I hear nothing about it from the DFL.

What would be a good story?
For example, that football in Germany is down-to-earth and many fans can afford to go to the stadium – we don’t have crazy prices like in England. The arenas are full, the atmosphere is great. There is also the 50+1 rule. The clubs belong to the members, not some sovereign wealth fund from Saudi Arabia or Qatar.

Isn’t that a very German view of football? Newcastle United fans, for example, cheered when the Saudi fund PIF, together with two partners, took over the club in October 2022.
Because it was clear: Now the big money is flowing. I can’t do anything with it, it alienates me. I also think it’s weird when the Italian and Spanish Supercup finals are played in Saudi Arabia – as has already happened. That can’t be the way of the Bundesliga. There would be a fan uprising.

On May 24, the DFL members, i.e. the delegates of the 36 first and second division clubs, will vote on a share sale. What result do you expect?
You can already tell that the smaller clubs in particular don’t feel taken along by the DFL. That could play a role in the vote, but of course it mainly depends on the well-known clubs. I hope that those responsible for the club not only see the opportunity for quick money, but also keep an eye on the future of the league. Contracts with a term of 20 to 30 years are now to be concluded. Most officials who vote on it today will no longer be in office at the end of the term. And that’s a problem. The next generation must bear the consequences of their actions.

Source: Stern

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