Rummenigge: G14 only thinks about themselves

[Guest Anders Honoré]

German giants Bayern Munich are considering pulling out of the G14 group of leading European football clubs, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in an interview published Monday.

 

Rummenigge told Germany's Kicker sports magazine Bayern Munich were "extremely dissatisfied" with developments within the G14.

 

"I have to question the future of the G14," he said.

 

The group of Europe's richest clubs - now numbering 18 and including clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United - was formed in September 2000 to represent the clubs' interests with the governing bodies FIFA and UEFA.

 

But Rummenigge complained that the lobby group was now largely inactive, with neither any joint projects nor communication with FIFA or UEFA at present.

 

"Under these conditions we will consider whether it makes sense to remain in the G14...I question the sense of the G14," he said.

 

Bayern Munich was a founding member and considered one of the driving forces behind the G14. But Rummenigge said the clubs now had "little in common" and that "pure egoism" was ruling football.

 

Few of the big clubs were now working profitably since club owners such as Chelsea's Roman Abramovich, AC Milan's Silvio Berlusconi or Inter Milan's Massimo Moratti ruled, Rummenigge said.

 

"Football is in extreme difficulties. And the G14 is doing too little for football," he said.

 

It was a good thing that UEFA and the European Union now realized that "there is no competition any more in football" as a result of the financial imbalances in the game.

 

"I dare to say that in the next 10 years no German club will reach the final of a European competition," he said.

 

"What an Abramovich spends each summer on the transfer market - how can a German club be competitive? Last year he blew 200 million euros (262 million dollars). What Werder Bremen (not a G14 member) has achieved so far in the Champions League against Chelsea and Barcelona is a miracle.

 

"Bremen earns 23 million (euros) from television, Barca 143 million. I hope the EU stops the excesses of an Abramovich or the television in other countries."

 

Rummenigge said his aim was to see a player salary cap introduced along with European central marketing for all the clubs. There were chances of this happening in the mid-term.

 

"I hope that by 2010 we again have a more or less fair competition," he said.

 

"Existing contracts have to be honoured, there will need to be an interim period. That has to be the aim of football. We are reaching limits but need a normal world again in football. And only UEFA can achieve this."

 

sauce

 

Anders: I actually agree with him to a certain extent. It's a bit weird seeing this from one of the founding and most powerful members of the G14 though. Only Real, Milan and us are more influential with in the group and they have more say than virtually all the later additions combined.

Edited November 27, 2006 by Anders Honoré

[Guest Cameron]

very rich coming from a club that annually buys the very best players in the bundesliga, paying sums that no other German club can match or a club refuse if offered. He's just bitter that English and Spanish clubs are much more wealthy than those in Germany and realises that the chances of his club winning the European Cup is slim.

 

I do agree however that the G14 does absolutely nothing for football, only themselves, but Bayern have long benefitted from the G14's greed, so why he's complaining about it I don't know.

[aka Dus]

very rich coming from a club that annually buys the very best players in the bundesliga, paying sums that no other German club can match or a club refuse if offered. He's just bitter that English and Spanish clubs are much more wealthy than those in Germany and realises that the chances of his club winning the European Cup is slim.

 

I do agree however that the G14 does absolutely nothing for football, only themselves, but Bayern have long benefitted from the G14's greed, so why he's complaining about it I don't know.

 

Agree with your post on both counts. Exactly what I thought when I read his comments.

 

Not the first time KHR has 'spoken out' recently in a very pointed way, trying to make Bayern look like the honest broker of the super clubs. Wonder what the ultimate agenda is...

[hideNseek]

If they did leave they'll be a queue of clubs willing to take their place, it won't happen.

[Cobs]

very rich coming from a club that annually buys the very best players in the bundesliga, paying sums that no other German club can match or a club refuse if offered. He's just bitter that English and Spanish clubs are much more wealthy than those in Germany and realises that the chances of his club winning the European Cup is slim.

 

I do agree however that the G14 does absolutely nothing for football, only themselves, but Bayern have long benefitted from the G14's greed, so why he's complaining about it I don't know.

totally right

 

same as Mancs bitching now that Chelsea have more money than them

[floyd]

Only Real, Milan and us are more influential with in the group and they have more say than virtually all the later additions combined.

That's a fact, but whenever you see the G14 mentioned it's usually the Mancs/Arsenal (what thefvck their doing in anyway Big Fat 0 wins) that are mentioned, but one of the most powerful ain't.

Edited November 28, 2006 by floyd

[Ostrich Man]

thatll be the old media conspiracy against liverpool again.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

That's a fact, but whenever you see the G14 mentioned it's usually the Mancs/Arsenal (what thefvck their doing in anyway Big Fat 0 wins) that are mentioned, but one of the most powerful ain't.

 

Arsenal have at least won one European trophy to ensure them a vote (in contrast, we have 13 votes, more than the 8 lowest ranked clubs combined).

 

I am more puzzled what Lyon is doing there who have won silch in Europe so far. Do they even have a vote?

 

thatll be the old media conspiracy against liverpool again.

 

the less we are associated with G14 in the media, the better, imo.

[Guest Terkop]

Rumenigge is a c*** but I agree with him on this issue, although its been done to death and yet there have been no changes.

[aka Dus]

What have the G14 actually achieved since 2000?

[surf]

kept chelsea out

[smithdown]

He also said something about how he doesn't think a German team will reach the European Cup Final in the next ten years, only the big super-rich clubs can do it, and it will be a miracle if Bremen get through their group.

 

If you look at the finalists in the last five years (including Leverkusen) he is obviously talking out of his a*rse. Just having a whinge about Bayern's crap record here I think.

[Benzo-13]

It's a great comment about Bremen alright and fair dues to them but I was in Berlin last weekend for a match and everyone hates Bayern (who doesn't support them obviously), you're looking at Chelsea and Man U. rolled into one over there.

 

So he's obviously just moaning - if its not him its' Beckenbauer or not either of them it's Uli Hoeness..

One of the biggest roars of the day was when VdV scored against Munich and this was at a Hertha/Aachen game!

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Sign VDV!

[Will]

"Bremen earns 23 million (euros) from television, Barca 143 million

Interesting - but why do German clubs earn so little from TV? Is their TV deal worth so much less, or is it split much more evenly around all the clubs?

 

I guess they have less foreign TV sales than Spanish or English footy, but that will be relatively small beer compared to the national TV sales

[Michael]

"Bremen earns 23 million (euros) from television, Barca 143 million. I hope the EU stops the excesses of an Abramovich or the television in other countries."

 

 

He's worried about the increased T.V. revenue for English clubs from next season. They could put up with Chelsea as the only financially obscene giant, but United have already unsettled Hargreaves and the top English clubs en bloc could be competing for Europe's best players soon. Bayern Munich may well end up the richest club in a relatively impoverished league and, therefore, unimportant in the european arena.

[growler]

The main point I agree with, is that they ran their club right, got a 23million profit, and chelsea were able to run up 140million loss.

 

Thats the change that needs to happen. Doesn't matter who owns the club, but the club itself must be self funding.

 

thing is, with the amount of money in the game, fifa, Uefa, fifpro, G14, club directors, players no one really cares about the game long term. As long as in 10 years time, they can all retire with their millions.

[Romario]

Toys out of pram. He's not leaving G14 though just in case...

[fyds]

It's not Rummenigge's call anyway - the family behind BMW who REALLY run Bayern Munich would flay him if he tried.

 

Interesting - but why do German clubs earn so little from TV? Is their TV deal worth so much less, or is it split much more evenly around all the clubs?

 

I guess they have less foreign TV sales than Spanish or English footy, but that will be relatively small beer compared to the national TV sales

German TV fecked up badly in it's sport dealings ala ITV a few years ago - still hasn't recovered.

[Raj]

German TV fecked up badly in it's sport dealings ala ITV a few years ago - still hasn't recovered.

 

Is right.

 

Dortmund were almost bankrupted by this situation. They had spent millions on players and could not recoup the money. This happened despite attracting crowds of 70,000 per home game and playing in the Champs League.

[floyd]

thatll be the old media conspiracy against liverpool again.

nope it's that old favourite, which goes all the way back to the Seventies and on, we all love Man Utd and London teams.