The Bundesliga is desperately looking for new sources of money!
Transfer fees and salaries are rising to ever more ludicrous spheres. And international competitiveness is increasingly threatened.
However, since the league is sticking to its 50+1 rule, which prevents investors from entering the clubs, part of the silverware is now being offered for sale.
As the “Handelsblatt” reports, the German Football League (DFL) is preparing an auction process in which bidders can acquire a share of the TV rights. These currently amount to around one billion euros per season and are therefore the largest source of income.
With a total value of 15 to 18 billion, the sale of 20 percent would flush three to four billion into the coffers of the clubs.
Only large private equity firms that invest investors’ money in investments can keep up with these sums. The Luxembourg company CVC (including a 60 percent stake in the betting provider Tipico) has already hit the football market in Spain and France.
The Spanish “La Liga” sold 11 percent of its rights for 50 years for 2.67 billion euros a year ago. Problem: The big clubs Real and Barcelona have not signed the deal. The league is divided.
The French “Ligue 1” sold 13 percent of CVC for 1.6 billion in March. The distribution key is questionable: PSG, already owned by the filthy rich ruling family of Qatar, should get 200 million euros. Lyon and Marseille 100, a group around Nice and Monaco 87 and the rest only 36 million each.
The Italian “Serie A” has refused to sell its rights.
Prognosis for Germany: The Bundesliga is finally faced with the decision of whether to play along with the total commercialization of European football – or choose a “German way” that could end in provincialization.
