The debate about the structure and financing of professional football at Hamburger SV continues – after the current management team rejected a proposal by patron and shareholder Klaus-Michael Kühne last week – he offered a total of 120 million euros, but wanted more influence on the supervisory board and more shares than the HSV statutes currently allow – the billionaire residing in Switzerland is now adding.
In a letter from his foundation published on Monday, the answer to the HSV management’s rejection was: “Kühne Holding AG is not interested in influencing the fortunes of HSV Fußball AG or even gaining power within the framework of further cooperation Rather, they offer significant support to establish “healthy financial conditions, which is intended to lay the foundation for future sporting success.”
Another of the six points listed states that other investors are also welcome: “Kuehne Holding AG does not aim to acquire all or a large part of the shares to be issued, but is very interested in third-party participation.” However, they are prepared to guarantee the entire capital increase “and also to transfer all or part of the acquired shares to third parties at a later date.” Without reducing debt and renovating the stadium, as well as investing in the team, permanent stabilization of the club would not be possible . Further borrowing, on the other hand, would achieve the opposite.
In the last point of the letter, the Kuehne Foundation once again made clear its current leadership: “Kuehne Holding AG believes it is important that more commercial expertise and a high level of sporting competence be represented on the Supervisory Board and Executive Board of HSV Fußball AG.”
The words of club president Rüdiger Fritsch from Darmstadt 98 towards HSV were completely different, but not friendly either. He clearly criticized the “officials” of Hamburger SV after the exciting game in the 2nd Bundesliga on Friday. “The behavior of the HSV officials during and after the game got on my nerves,” said the 61-year-old from the “Bild” newspaper. “Losing decently in sport definitely looks different.”
Promotion favorite Hamburg suffered their second home defeat with a 1:2 (0:2) against Darmstadt. There were four sending-offs in the game, three for HSV: Aaron Opoku was sent off just eight minutes after coming on for a kick against Fabian Holland (64th), goalscorer Ransford Königsdörffer (89th) saw red for an assault. And the protesting HSV sports director Jonas Boldt also had to go to the stands after being sent off.
“I haven’t heard a real apology. Insanity! Instead, secondary theaters of war are opened by turning on the referee,” said Fritsch, without specifically explaining what had bothered him so much. HSV professional Jonas Meffert had criticized the behavior of referee Robert Schröder (“an absolute cheek”), who then defended himself against the criticism.
“I would like to make it very clear that we didn’t lose the game because of the referee,” said HSV defender Jonas Meffert when the waves of indignation had subsided. The midfielder had previously complained about the referee. “The way he talked to us is not at all. It was below the belt,” he said.
Robert Schröder’s management was actually not sovereign. However, that was not an excuse for freaks out in both Hamburg and Darmstadt, who lost Klaus Gjasula through yellow-red.
