Know why are German football fans protesting during Bundesliga matches
Lately in the Bundesliga, there has been a surge in fan protests due to discontent over investor initiatives.
In a recent match week, a notable incident occurred during the first half at Signal Iduna Park where Borussia Dortmund faced Freiburg, resulting in over 10 minutes of added stoppage time.
Explained why are German football fans protesting during Bundesliga matches due to new investor deal
Kickoff has been delayed between Leverkusen and Bayern due to fans throwing candy onto the pitch in protest of a new investor deal with the Bundesliga 🍬 pic.twitter.com/EDAH4VgGpR
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 10, 2024
Despite Borussia Dortmund securing a 3-0 victory with Donyell Malen scoring twice and Niclas Fullkrug adding a late goal for the home team, both sets of supporters expressed their frustration by throwing tennis balls and coins onto the pitch.
This demonstration of dissatisfaction is not isolated, as evidenced by Hamburg fans attaching bike locks to a goalpost during their second-division game against Hannover, causing a 30-minute delay.
Hamburg Received 2 Red Cards?
Despite trailing 3-1 at halftime, Hamburg managed to equalize at 3-3, only to suffer a devastating defeat in the 98th minute, conceding a late goal and witnessing two players receive red cards.
The match, prolonged by various on-field incidents and protests, concluded more than two hours and 40 minutes after its commencement. At one juncture, the referee halted play and warned of a possible abandonment due to unveiled banners and escalating tensions.
Protests Part of Broader Trend?
These protests are part of a broader trend in German football since last year, stemming from proposed plans in December to sell a stake in marketing revenues to a private equity investor.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen ultras distributing copies of the latest statement from the “Fanszenen Deutschlands” – the nationwide alliance of ultra groups leading the current match day protests in the #Bundesliga.
Key points translated below 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/17jJWi5nSO
— Matt Ford (@matt_4d) February 10, 2024
With the deal nearing finalization, supporters are intensifying their opposition. Notably, fan clubs and “ultras” from multiple top German teams joined forces in late 2023, observing a 12-minute silence at the start of matches to voice their concerns.
During the recent Hamburg-Hannover game, banners directly targeted prospective buyers CVC and Blackstone, while the away team displayed a banner featuring the image of club president Martin Kind in crosshairs.
Kind’s ambiguous stance on the proposal, despite the Hannover members’ club urging him to oppose it, underscores the contentious nature of the deal. Ultimately, the proposal narrowly passed with approval from 24 of the 36 clubs in the top two divisions.
Union Berlin stands out among Bundesliga clubs in opposition to the plans, with club president Dirk Zingler warning against sacrificing Germany’s distinct club ownership model in a pursuit of financial parity with wealthy foreign owners.