Football (Soccer) Thread

[Jacob]

Yeah, I read that in another article. It's still an interesting set up compared to the prevailing British and North American ones.

[Admiral Yi]

VfL Wolfsburg is owned by Volkswagen AG and Bayer Leverkusen is owned by Bayer AG. Of course neither Volkswagen nor Bayer intend to make a profit with their teams and mainly use them for advertising and corporate social responsibility. And being responsible to their shareholders, they can't invest gigantic sums into their teams like those sheiks and oligarchs.

What prevents them from earning a return on investment?  Is the broadcast rights market in Germany run on feudal lines?

[Zanza]

I guess they could earn a return on that investment, but then football is not really their main line of business, rather an expensive "hobby" for the company bosses. A bit like racing team for other companies.

Although I am not sure if the statutes of the football league would allow taking money out of the company that runs the professional football. In reality, Volkswagen basically acts like a Russian oligarch and puts in money into the club. Probably not the obscene amounts that e.g. ManCity or PSG get, but still enough to make Wolfsburg, which would otherwise be at best in the second or third division, stay in the top flight. Bayer puts in some money, but apparently less than VW.

The broadcast rights in Germany are sold en bloc for the whole league and while Bayern gets more than the last club, it is not a huge difference like in Spain. 

[Admiral Yi]

The broadcast rights in Germany are sold en bloc for the whole league and while Bayern gets more than the last club, it is not a huge difference like in Spain.

There's the problem right there.  No upside incentive.

[Zanza]

It's generally considered a big advantage. Football thrives from competition, not from a single team dominating.

[Admiral Yi]

It's generally considered a big advantage. Football thrives from competition, not from a single team dominating.

But the market for talent is global.

[Zanza]

It's generally considered a big advantage. Football thrives from competition, not from a single team dominating.

But the market for talent is global.

A majority of our players comes from the club's academies. Which are only possible because the TV money is shared.

[Liep]

So there was a clause in Götze's new contract forbidding him to play the final?

[Warspite]

A lot of knob-gobbling going on in the UK press about German football at the moment, reflecting the general zeitgeist on the left here that everything teutonic must be emulated.

[Josephus]

Trying to get excited about this Cup final. Certainly lacking a sexy factor. Sure it will be good.

[Zanza]

Bayern FTW!

[PDH]

Goddamn Gus Johnson

[Liep]

Well that was a silly penalty.

[katmai]

Boo Bayern.

[Liep]

Comment about Robben from Danish radio: "Good for him, you know, they say even his own mother doesn't really like him."