German Football Clubs Accept Plans to Secure Private Equity Investment in Return for a Share of TV Rights

German football clubs voted in a plan to secure private equity investment on Monday in return for a share of TV rights over the next two decades.

In total, 24 of the 36 clubs in the top two divisions of German football voted in favour of the plan at an assembly in Frankfurt, enough to give the proposal the necessary two-thirds majority.

One fewer vote would have seen the process fail. Ten of the clubs voted against the plan while two abstained in the secret ballot.

A similar proposal which sought to sell off a higher percentage of the TV revenue for a larger fee failed to get the necessary majority when put to a vote in May.

The German Football League (DFL) which proposed the vote said it would “secure the long-term and sustainable success” of the clubs and the top two divisions.

“The aim is for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 to continue to be competitive in sporting and commercial terms, and remain financially stable while maintaining the balance between social integration and economic growth.”

In particular, the DFL said the money, estimated to be close to one billion euros ($1.08 billion), would be used for marketing and internationalisation, including the establishment of a streaming platform.

Further funds will be used to provide additional short-term compensation for the clubs and to establish a fund to encourage clubs to travel abroad for advertising purposes.

DFL CEO Steffen Merkel said the outcome showed “German football is ready to invest in the future.”

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said “We’ve got the result that we wished for to develop the league.”

The proposal was however opposed by some clubs and fan groups. Prior to the vote, Champions League club Union Berlin said the vote was “taking place at the wrong time” and should be postponed.

Fan alliance Unser Kurve complained before the vote that the process was lacked “sensible, transparent and in-depth discussion” and the input of club members.

After the result, Unser Kurve called the vote a “setback” and accused the DFL of putting “money above everything else.”

“The uniqueness of German football has been thrown overboard in order to take part in a hopeless rat race with the Premier League,” the organisation said in a statement.

The DFL has promised the deal will include protections against changes in kick-off times or moving competitive fixtures abroad.

German football has a notable commitment to fan control and involvement by restricting the degree of influence an external investor can have over a club.

Clubs must be compliant with the 50+1 rule, which requires clubs have at least 50 percent plus one vote ownership of the club, thereby ensuring members have control over major club decisions.

Two German clubs, Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen, owned by Volkswagen and pharmaceuticals company Bayer respectively, have been granted exceptions to this rule as this ownership pre-dated the creation of the Bundesliga.