“One hundred percent” no change at 50+1

As head of the German Football League (DFL), Hans-Joachim Watzke has once again rejected repeated calls for the 50+1 rule to be abolished.

It is “no longer necessary to discuss 50+1,” said the 63-year-old picture on sunday: “Because there will be no change in Germany under my responsibility as DFL supervisory board chairman in the next few years. That’s one hundred percent certain.”

Watzke, also managing director at Borussia Dortmund, reacted to an advance by Uli Hoeneß, among other things. The honorary president of Bayern Munich had recently warned that the Bundesliga – with the exception of his club – would lose touch internationally under 50+1.

“The fascinating thing about Uli Hoeneß’ argument is that he suggests something to other clubs, but then explicitly excludes FC Bayern – this time in relation to giving up 50+1,” said Watzke, whose opinion was “different”: “Not only Frankfurt’s success in the Europa League proves me right, but also the Champions League, which Real Madrid won – a crystal-clear 50+1 club in which the president is even elected by the members.”

No success with 50+1? Hans-Joachim Watzke: “Biggest nonsense!”

Claims that no success is possible with 50+1 were described by Watzke as “the greatest nonsense”. In the Bundesliga, for example, many clubs “have done a great job with their opportunities. On the other hand, there are a number of international investor clubs that have not yet won the Champions League despite inexhaustible sources of money.”

The Bundesliga has not lost its international reputation either – although Sadio Mane’s move from Liverpool to Munich in England was sometimes dismissed. Former Liverpool star Dean Saunders had said Mane would manage the Bundesliga “in third gear” and “with a cigar in the armchair”.

“There are always some arrogant idiots like in this case,” said Watzke: “As a board member of Europe’s club association ECA, I know that German football still has a good reputation.”