BERLIN, Germany, Apr 1 – German football is famed for its vibrant fan culture and member-owned clubs, but as the Bundesliga braces itself for a major financial hit in the coming months, could the coronavirus put an end to fan power?

Many clubs are fearing for their financial futures in the crisis, prompting fresh calls to reform the long disputed “50+1” rule, which guarantees supporter influence and limits the power of wealthy investors.

“Other leagues are more flexible because they are more open to investors…which could put German football at a disadvantage,” sports economist Christoph Breuer told DPA news agency.

The “50+1” rule is fiercely defended by German football fans, who see it as a bulwark against the commercialisation of football.

The rule ensures that a club’s members — usually its supporters — hold majority voting rights, meaning that no individual person or company can gain full control.

Its detractors claim that it scares away potential investors, whose spending power would provide a lifeline for clubs starved of matchday and TV revenues in the current crisis.

“Of course I can look for investors even with the 50+1 rule…but there would be many more possibilities without it,” said Breuer.

– ‘Crisis as opportunity’ –

As iconic clubs such as Schalke and Werder Bremen warn of an “existential” threat to their financial security, calls for reform are growing louder.

“I think it’s sensible to learn and to question the entire system in a crisis like this,” Cologne sporting director Horst Heldt told Sport1.

Hanover president Martin Kind, who has long campaigned for the rule to be revoked, took a similar view in a talk show last Sunday.

“Football will change dramatically. It is always important to see a crisis as an opportunity and develop structures which facilitate sporting success with economic stability,” he said.

Clubs like Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig would emerge unscathed from the crisis due to their major financial backers, he argued.

Unlike Kind, who has repeatedly failed in his attempts to gain full control of Hanover, those clubs have managed to circumvent the 50+1 rule.

Red Bull-backed Leipzig have bent the rule by admitting only 17 club members since their founding a decade ago, while the other three have been granted an exception due to the longstanding involvement of a single, local investor.

All four clubs are widely despised by other German fans, and ultra groups across the country hold regular protests against both Red Bull and Hoffenheim investor Dietmar Hopp.

– ‘Populist demands’ –

For most fans, the 50+1 rule remains an unassailable doctrine, to be defended at all costs.

In a statement on the coronavirus crisis last week, supporter advocacy group “Unsere Kurve” warned against “kneejerk” and “populist” demands to overturn the rule.

“Collectively built foundations such as the 50+1 rule will bring advantages in the crisis, not disadvantages,” said the group.

They added that “long-term solutions” were called for, and pointed out that they had for years campaigned for “sustainable economic policies in the clubs and a more fair distribution of TV income”.

Yet with the league suspended until the end of April, many clubs are facing short-term cash-flow problems which could prove decisive.

If the season is ultimately cancelled, clubs would lose a signficant chunk of their TV rights revenues, against which the league as a whole has no insurance.

In that case, opening the doors to investors may prove the “only chance of survival”, as one player agent put it, speaking anonymously to Sport1.

Most clubs, he claimed, would not be able to survive more than four to five weeks under the current circumstances.

“In the end, the 50+1 rule will fall as a result of the coronavirus.”

(Visited 11 times, 1 visits today)

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Okwiri keeps Tokyo dream despite Dakar loss

rn rn Boxingrn rn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Wimbledon cancelled for first time since WWIIrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn UEFA postpone June international fixturesrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Tributes paid to ex-Marseille president Dioufrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 6 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Ex- Marseille president Pape Diouf dies of coronavirusrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 10 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn New Zealand Rugby slash pay as sport reels from virusrn

rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn 10 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Kiwi rugby stars share lockdown tips in new showrn

rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn 11 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn ntttnttttnttttt

ntttttt
• Latest
ntttttt
• Trending
nttttttttttttt
• Videos
nttttttttttt

nttttnttttntttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttnttttntttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttntttttttttntttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttntttttttnntttttnttttntttttttntt rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Wimbledon cancelled for first time since WWII

rn rn rn Gamern rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

UEFA postpone June international fixtures

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Tributes paid to ex-Marseille president Diouf

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ex- Marseille president Pape Diouf dies of coronavirus

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

New Zealand Rugby slash pay as sport reels from virus

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?

ntt
• NO
ntt
• YES
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Kiwi rugby stars share lockdown tips in new show

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Secrecy and suspense over Tour de France’s fate

rn rn rn Gamern rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Could coronavirus kill off German football fan power?

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Solskjaer in touch with Man Utd stars during virus lockdown

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Summon spirit of 2006 to beat COVID-19- Cannavaro to Italy

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Wimbledon cancelled for first time since WWIIrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn UEFA postpone June international fixturesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Okwiri keeps Tokyo dream despite Dakar lossrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tributes paid to ex-Marseille president Dioufrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ex- Marseille president Pape Diouf dies of coronavirusrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn ntttnttttnttttt

ntttttt
• Latest
ntttttt
• Trending
nttttttttttttt
• Videos
nttttttttttt

nttttnttttntttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttnttttntttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttntttttttttntttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttntttttttnntttttnttttntttttttntt rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Wimbledon cancelled for first time since WWIIrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn UEFA postpone June international fixturesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Okwiri keeps Tokyo dream despite Dakar lossrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tributes paid to ex-Marseille president Dioufrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ex- Marseille president Pape Diouf dies of coronavirusrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 1st Apr 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */