Published: 11:38, April 7, 2022 | Updated: 11:58, April 7, 2022
Kahn: Bundesliga must gain ground in international markets
By Xinhua

Bayern Munich's German chairman Oliver Kahn poses upon arrival to attend the 2021 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Nov 29, 2021. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP)

BERLIN - Bayern Munich chairman Oliver Kahn is worried about the German Bundesliga's international competitiveness.

Kahn demanded short-term solutions to compensate for alarming disadvantages in international revenues of the Bundesliga compared to other major European leagues.

While the German league earns 150 million euros per year, football clubs in other countries can count on a significantly larger figure.

The Spanish La Liga is ranked at 700 million with the income kings of the English Premier League leading the pack with an income out of international marketing revenues of 2.1 billion in 12 months.

International marketing turnovers in the Premier League for the first time have outpaced the national marketing gains.

Bayern Munich chairman Oliver Kahn mentioned that when satisfying options can't be found, the 2020 treble winner might leave the Bundesliga's agreement to promote the league in total and possibly count on separate efforts

"That's a pointer, where things are buzzing in the future, on international grounds," the former German international stated.

"In the past we talked about much smaller differences," Kahn added.

Considering 150 million for German clubs compared to 2.1 million, "we have to find a solution in a joint venture of our entire league," the 52-year-old said.

The Bayern official mentioned that when satisfying options can't be found, the 2020 treble winner might leave the Bundesliga's agreement to promote the league in total and possibly count on separate efforts.

"There can't be any taboos as we all are far from pleased by the current situation," the 2001 Champions League winner commented.

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Nearly 30 European clubs this season invested more than the Bavarians. Nevertheless, Bayern again made it into the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Bayern's success over the past years is grounded on an exceptional collection of extremely gifted players, often signed from less wealthy clubs in the Bundesliga. But it takes action to repeat a similar success. Bayern won the Champions League twice over the past 12 years in 2013 and 2020 and twice reached the final.

"The key to success isn't the attitude, I buy a promising team. If that would be the case, Paris and Manchester City should have won the thing," Kahn added.

The eight-time German Champion said he doesn't fear Bayern might turn into a star supplier for the Premier League.

Bayern has proved to always find ways to select a competitive squad.

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The newest actions of FIFA can help to make up for the current imbalance in European football, Kahn said.

FIFA's Financial Sustainability Regulations limit the clubs' spending to 70 percent of their income. FIFA's actions don't prohibit investments, but they create fair conditions for all in his perspective.

Kahn demanded from the Bundesliga to skip hindering investment rules such as the 50 plus one rule forcing clubs to keep the majority of shares.

"It should be in the club's hands to decide about outside investments. Investments are nothing bad in general. Many clubs in England meanwhile benefit from investors leadership," Kahn stated.

Several German clubs already count on the support of investors, he said. The 50 plus one rule isn't addressing modern football's requirements, the Bayern leader added.