Comments on: German football resists foreign riches, for now http://soccerlens.com/german-football-resists-foreign-riches-for-now/14239/ Football News Fri, 25 May 2012 18:33:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jan http://soccerlens.com/german-football-resists-foreign-riches-for-now/14239/#comment-104468 Jan Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:08:51 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14239#comment-104468 Because Leverkusen and Wolfsburg evolved out of clubs founded by companies (Bayer - VW), those companies can hold 100% of the shares. An exception to the rule that those shares have to be held by the club members (as in all other cases). The 50+1 rule still remains intact in the sense that Bayer and VW aren't allowed to sell more than 49% of their shares either. Given the support and sponsorship from those companies over decades, this decision might be understandable, and at the time the rule was made Leverkusen were also one of the top 3 teams in the league and playing in the CL. But I'm not really happy with it. With the ever growing popularity of football, the two companies were given an additional very valuable marketing tool, while denying it to the other clubs. Bayer support Bayer Leverkusen with €25m in "image money" each year. In other words they pay for the fact that the company name is part of the club's name and that the company logo is part of the club's crest. I wouldn't want to see Coca Cola Cologne playing in the Bundesliga, it's more about having each club follow the same rules... Because Leverkusen and Wolfsburg evolved out of clubs founded by companies (Bayer – VW), those companies can hold 100% of the shares. An exception to the rule that those shares have to be held by the club members (as in all other cases). The 50+1 rule still remains intact in the sense that Bayer and VW aren’t allowed to sell more than 49% of their shares either.

Given the support and sponsorship from those companies over decades, this decision might be understandable, and at the time the rule was made Leverkusen were also one of the top 3 teams in the league and playing in the CL. But I’m not really happy with it. With the ever growing popularity of football, the two companies were given an additional very valuable marketing tool, while denying it to the other clubs. Bayer support Bayer Leverkusen with €25m in “image money” each year. In other words they pay for the fact that the company name is part of the club’s name and that the company logo is part of the club’s crest. I wouldn’t want to see Coca Cola Cologne playing in the Bundesliga, it’s more about having each club follow the same rules…

]]> By: Duffman http://soccerlens.com/german-football-resists-foreign-riches-for-now/14239/#comment-104449 Duffman Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:58:20 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14239#comment-104449 Hey Jan, Is that the case with Leverkusen and Wolfsburg too? Or are they exceptions? Hey Jan,

Is that the case with Leverkusen and Wolfsburg too? Or are they exceptions?

]]> By: Jan http://soccerlens.com/german-football-resists-foreign-riches-for-now/14239/#comment-104363 Jan Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:04:32 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14239#comment-104363 The 50+1 rule is not a ban on foreign ownership it is a ban on every type of ownership. German's can't buy more than 49% of a club either. Hoffenheim's billionaire sugar daddy only owns 49% of Hoffenheim as well for example. The 50+1 rule is not a ban on foreign ownership it is a ban on every type of ownership. German’s can’t buy more than 49% of a club either. Hoffenheim’s billionaire sugar daddy only owns 49% of Hoffenheim as well for example.

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