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DFB and DFL office raids: more details
Germany - 29 February, 2008
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Kartellamt, the German office of fair trading ordered officers to raid the headquarters of the German football league (DFL) and German FA (DFB) to search for confirmation that an alleged group was employed to monopolise sponsorship of the German game.
Several documents were taken during the raids, and both groups, the DFB and the DFL, said the raid was "excessive."
Last April, an article in Sport Bild magazine, which ignited the Kartellamt investigation, claimed the DFB had intervened as negotiations between Bayer Leverkusen and its main sponsor, RWE, were under way.
According to the report, the DFB also approached RWE and asked if they were interested in sponsoring Germany's youth teams.
"It is not fair that the DFB and the League Association (DFL), or even the clubs, compete against each other in sponsorship negotiations," said Wolfgang Holzhauser, Leverkusen general manager.
"It was not very comforting during our negotiations with RWE to learn that the DFB were also talking to our long-term partner about working with their youth teams. "We have written to the DFB about this."
RWE will not sponsor Leverkusen after hearing from Holzhauser. He promised to "set up a working group to prevent the DFB and League from getting into any difficulties in the sponsorship market."
Kartellamt is targeting whether or not any illegal strategic advantage was achieved from the DFL and DFB's cooperation in the fields of sports marketing and sponsorship.
Both associations have released statements denying the claims.
"This action is unbelievable for all of us" said DFB general secretary, Wolfgang Niersbach. "We have always worked correctly and fairly with the authorities, which was one of the particular secrets of the success of the 2006 World Cup, so there is absolutely no reason to hide anything.
"Had the Bundeskartellamt contacted us directly, they would have received a straight answer with all the necessary documents they required. We do not know of the slightest suspicion of incorrect behaviour on our behalf" he added.
"This raid is a sad example of how a basis of trust can be destroyed between ourselves and the authorities."
The raids are not related to the current negotiations for a new deal regarding Bundesliga broadcasting rights, which are under way this week at the DFL.
Several documents were taken during the raids, and both groups, the DFB and the DFL, said the raid was "excessive."
Last April, an article in Sport Bild magazine, which ignited the Kartellamt investigation, claimed the DFB had intervened as negotiations between Bayer Leverkusen and its main sponsor, RWE, were under way.
According to the report, the DFB also approached RWE and asked if they were interested in sponsoring Germany's youth teams.
"It is not fair that the DFB and the League Association (DFL), or even the clubs, compete against each other in sponsorship negotiations," said Wolfgang Holzhauser, Leverkusen general manager.
"It was not very comforting during our negotiations with RWE to learn that the DFB were also talking to our long-term partner about working with their youth teams. "We have written to the DFB about this."
RWE will not sponsor Leverkusen after hearing from Holzhauser. He promised to "set up a working group to prevent the DFB and League from getting into any difficulties in the sponsorship market."
Kartellamt is targeting whether or not any illegal strategic advantage was achieved from the DFL and DFB's cooperation in the fields of sports marketing and sponsorship.
Both associations have released statements denying the claims.
"This action is unbelievable for all of us" said DFB general secretary, Wolfgang Niersbach. "We have always worked correctly and fairly with the authorities, which was one of the particular secrets of the success of the 2006 World Cup, so there is absolutely no reason to hide anything.
"Had the Bundeskartellamt contacted us directly, they would have received a straight answer with all the necessary documents they required. We do not know of the slightest suspicion of incorrect behaviour on our behalf" he added.
"This raid is a sad example of how a basis of trust can be destroyed between ourselves and the authorities."
The raids are not related to the current negotiations for a new deal regarding Bundesliga broadcasting rights, which are under way this week at the DFL.
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