German first and second division clubs adopted a motion on Monday at the general assembly of the League (DFL) authorizing the latter to negotiate to cede part of their television rights for the next 20 years.
In total, 24 of the 36 clubs in these two divisions voted in favor of this proposal, which needed a two-thirds majority to be adopted. A previous motion, planning to cede a larger share of television rights, had already been rejected in May. The plan adopted on Monday, which must still be negotiated and clarified, would, according to estimates, provide for the sale of less than 10% of television rights for a total amount which could reach one billion euros.
The DFL welcomed an agreement to “secure the sustainable and long-term success” of clubs in the first and second divisions. The sum raised should be used to promote and develop the League internationally, the latter promised: “This is the result we wanted to develop the League,” welcomed Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in particular.
Despite the promises of the DFL, which notably assured that this agreement would not lead to changes to the kick-off times of matches or the organization of meetings abroad, this development plan aroused opposition of certain clubs and supporters. “The specificity of German football has been thrown overboard to take part in a desperate race with the Premier League,” criticized the Unser Kurve, a group of supporters, accusing the DFL of “placing money above of all”.
The rules of German football notably prevent external investors from taking control of a club, under the so-called “50 1” rule, which states that clubs must control at least 50% of the shares 1 of their own capital. Only Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen escape this obligation, because these two clubs already belonged respectively to the car manufacturer Volkswagen and the chemist Bayer before the creation of the Bundesliga.