On the terraces: Is 50+1 being circumvented in Stuttgart?

In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from fan protests to finances.

Along with Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart are the team of the season in the Bundesliga this year. Sebastian Hoeneß has the Swabians playing swashbuckling attacking football which has put them on course for qualification for the Champions League for the first time since 2009, seen four Stuttgarters tipped for national team call-ups and head coach Hoeneß linked with the Bayern Munich job. Meanwhile, years of boardroom squabbles appear to have given way to Swabian solidarity, culminating in a €40m investment from Porsche, all in adherence with the 50+1 rule. So why are the fans up in arms?

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This is Matt Ford’s ninth “On the terraces” newsletter. The first newsletter for Gegenpressing was made available for all subscribers so readers can get a good idea of what he’ll be covering in German football this year. If you like what you see, please consider taking out a paid subscription.