REDS REVOLT
Germans champion ownership rule
GERMAN fans say their model for the game could save English football from future Super League-style breakaways.
Bundesliga rules put in place in 1998 mean commercial investors can hold no more than a 49% stake in clubs.
Borussia Dortmund fan ambassador Toby Westerfallhaus backed calls for a similar move in England.
He said: “The heart of each supporter is with the club, not with the money. At Dortmund, around 65% of the club is owned by the fans.
“So they could not have made a decision on the European Super League without us. They need to go to the members for approval.
“The passion we feel is because of the club’s history, that’s why this club is famous. The message to fans is to own your club, don’t give it away.”
The Mirror visited Borussia
ANGRY fans blockaded Manchester United’s training complex yesterday in protest at the club’s failed bid to join the European Super League.
Around 20 supporters arrived at the centre and called for the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, to quit.
They unfurled banners that read “51% MUFC 20”, and “Glazer Out”.
The 51% is a reference to fans holding the majority of voting rights at a club, commonplace in German football.
But after being spoken to by the Old Trafford club’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the group later left the site at Carrington, Gtr Manchester.
Solskjaer was joined by coach Michael Carrick, technical director Darren Fletcher and star Nemanja Matic. Training for players was cancelled.
Manchester United said in a statement yesterday: “At approximately 9am this morning a group gained access to the club training ground.
“The manager and others spoke to
Dortmund’s ground eight years ago to experience its famous “Yellow Wall” of fans.
It was easy to see why they are part of the best attended league in the world.
Back then, you paid around £8.95 for a match ticket. Now, it will cost you around £12, a snip compared to Premier League prices.
Supporters pay £60 a year to have their say on the club as “members” and a season ticket is little more than £170. You them. Buildings were secure and the group has now left the site.”
United were one of six Premier League clubs to sign up to the European Super League. But they withdrew along with Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and can still watch the game with a beer in your hand. Terracing and standing areas remain.
I was among 80,720 fans at the magnificent Signal Iduna Park as Dortmund beat Hamburg 4-2. Away supporters are guaranteed a percentage of the cheapest tickets available.
Alexander Fischer is from Bayern Munich’s
Club No.12, an organisation representing fans, which
Man City after a furious reaction from fans.
Executive vicechairman Ed Woodward announced he was stepping down he recommends for English clubs. “It is a good start to bring back football to the people,” he said.
Markus Sotirianos, from Darmstadt, is the vice chair at Unsere Kurve, which represents around 300,000 fans. He said: “Granting fans a stronger role in governance is an important step towards more sustainable professional football.”
Angry Man U fans block complex over ESL plan
They could not have made that decision without us
DORTMUND FAN TOBY ON THE ESL BREAKAWAY
in the fallout and co-chairman Joel Glazer, who endorsed the Super League in its introductory statement on Sunday night, issued an open letter of apology to fans on Wednesday afternoon. Glazer, who has not attended a United game in over two years, said: “You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right. “Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans.” The Government finally published plans for its “fan-led review” of football governance yesterday after the row. The panel, chaired by Tory MP Tracey Crouch, will examine whether current tests for club owners and directors are fit for purpose. It will also consider calls for an independent regulator.