Stuttgart president calls for new vote on DFL investor deal
Amid continuing fan protests against the recently approved DFL investor deal, VfB Stuttgart President Claus Vogt became the first major German footballing executive to call for a re-vote yesterday.
Unrelenting protests from ultra groups against the recently sanctioned DFL investor deal continue to disrupt German football matches all across the Bundesrepubik. The most committed sections of German fans register their discontent with coordinated anti-DFL chants as well as the act of throwing chocolate coins and tennis balls onto the pitch. Last night's Union Berlin-Mainz fixture was delayed for a full twelve minutes due to continued peppering of the pitch with tennis balls from the Union ultras.
The latest set of anti-DFL banners to appear within the ultra blocks seek to underline the message that fans feel that the recent vote didn't exhibit enough transparency. At the very least, fans wish to know which specific clubs supported the measure. The investor initiative achieved the minimum two-thirds majority among the 36 clubs contesting German's top two professional footballing flights. Twenty-four clubs voted in favor. Ten voted against while two abstained.
VfB Stuttgart President Claus Vogt - writing on social media platform X last night - voiced his backing for the fan protests. The 54-year-old called for a re-vote in which the clubs may not hide behind the anonymity of a secret ballot. Vogt appeared to even go so far as to suggest that a two-thirds majority may not be as important as revealing to fans where specific clubs stand on the issue. In order for the VfB functionary's proposal to be realized, the previous vote would have to be overturned.
"Our understanding of democracy - also in football - should hold that the majority decides," Vogt wrote, "However, if it cannot be determined that a democratically arrived at result is correct, it's the interest of us, our fans, and the game to discuss whether a new vote is necessary."
"I personally believe that it is necessary," Vogt continued, "This would be an important first step towards taking the interest of the fans seriously and calming the situations within the stadiums."
#DFL pic.twitter.com/MM55LmqIsG
— Claus Vogt (@clausvogt1893) February 7, 2024