The German Football League (DFL) recently made the decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in its media rights income to an outside investor. This decision was influenced by months of disruptive protests from fans. In December, clubs in Germany’s first and second-tier football divisions voted in favor of allowing a financial investor to acquire a portion of the DFL media arm in a deal worth between €900 million and €1 billion.
The DFL, which oversees the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, announced on Wednesday that they would not be moving forward with the proposed deal. According to DFL board spokesperson Hans-Joachim Watzke, the current circumstances make it impossible to continue with the process. Despite the majority supporting a strategic partnership, the board decided unanimously to halt the process and not finalize the deal.
Private equity investor CVC Capital Partners was the last potential buyer to consider acquiring a 20-year share of broadcast and sponsorship revenue in exchange for an upfront payment. However, protests from fans have led to significant disturbances during games, with objects being thrown onto the field and games being interrupted for extended periods. Some fans have gone as far as using remote-controlled vehicles and attaching bike locks to goalposts as part of their protests.
Watzke emphasized that any attempts to revive the deal would only create further complications in the process, which is not the desired outcome for the DFL. Moving forward, the DFL plans to engage clubs in discussions to evaluate the entire process. The decision to abandon the deal is a significant setback for the league, as it had hoped to increase revenues. Many leagues across Europe are exploring external funding options through broadcasting deals to enhance their income and expand their global presence. Despite being the second-largest league in Europe based on revenue, the Bundesliga will now have to reassess its financial strategies following this development.