The German Football League (DFL) has “abandoned its plans” to negotiate US$1.08B investment deal with a private equity partner amid “widespread fan protests against the proposals,” according to Matt Ford of DEUTSCHE WELLE. Recent matches in both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 have been “increasingly disrupted by supporters throwing tennis balls and other objects onto pitches, causing delays of up to 30 minutes.” DFL Supervisory Board Chair and Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke in a statement said, "Even though there is a large majority in favor of the economic necessity of a strategic partnership, German professional football is facing an acid test with divisions not only between clubs within the league but also inside the clubs themselves between players, coaches, officials, boards members and fan groups." He added that disputes were “taking on such a magnitude that they were compromising ‘matchday operations, games themselves and the integrity of the competition’” (DEUTSCHE WELLE, 2/21). Private equity investor CVC Capital Partners was the “only remaining prospective buyer for a 20-year slice of broadcast and sponsorship revenue in return for an up-front payment” (AP, 2/21).
