On the eve of another World Cup exit: The time is now to fundamentally reform German football
With Germany facing another World Cup exit, the question has to be asked whether the country needs fundamental reform and whether inspiration needs to come from America.
There was an intriguing report in the Monday print edition of the German magazine kicker that suggested that Hertha Berlin have found two American investors who could be interested in buying out Lars Windhorst. Director of sport Fredi Bobic is currently in the United States to increase Hertha’s presence in the United States—the club will hold its winter camp in Florida.
After first buying a minority stake in the club in 2019, Windhorst has increased his shares to 64.7%, of which just 49.9% are voting shares in compliance with the famous 50+1 rule—the rule requires the parent club to own at least 50% plus one additional share of the football company, ensuring that the club’s members still hold a majority of voting rights.
Windhorst’s time at Hertha, however, has not been short of controversy, and this fall, the businessman announced that he would sell his shares. Bobic has since explored other opportunities. According to kicker Robert Kraft, the owner of the NFL franchise New England Patriots and the MLS team New England Revolution, and Philip Anschutz, whose holdings among others include the LA Galaxy and the hockey team Eisbären Berlin, were among the interested parties.
Both Kraft and Anschutz would have certainly have been able to provide the cash and, most importantly, the sporting know-how to not just invest in Hertha but also modernize an aging sports institution. But Windhorst appears to have other plans.
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