The Chairman of the Interior Ministers’ Conference (IMC), Bremen’s Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD), plans to raise the topic of the German Football League’s (DFL) participation in high-risk Bundesliga matches during the spring IMC and advocate for a joint solution. “It’s only logical that I will address the cost-sharing aspect at this year’s Interior Ministers’ Conference” Mäurer told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Monday edition). The reason is the recent ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, which allows for such a participation.
“A common fund, into which the DFL would pay, would be less burdensome than individual fee structures. The DFL would be wise to consider this idea and finance a certain percentage of the 1.6 million hours of deployment” Mäurer said.
He added, “There is a large majority in public opinion in favor of cost-sharing. After all, it’s not about amateur games, church events, or concerts, but solely about high-risk professional football matches.”
And, he noted, “Players earn a multiple of the sum we’re talking about now. We have a total of 1.6 million hours of deployment in the first and second Bundesliga nationwide every year. If we multiply that by 65 euros per hour, we’re looking at over 100 million euros just in personnel costs. Add to that the costs for transportation, accommodation and food and that’s a massive expenditure.”
However, he said, football is a political power factor. “Moreover, it’s a problem that the Interior Ministers are often also Sports Ministers.” Therefore, it is only after the next Interior Ministers’ Conference in the spring that more will be known.