FRANKFURT: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has declared himself in favour of German football scrapping the 50+1 rule which is generally considered a bedrock of the ‘fan society’ aspect of the domestic game writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

In an interview with the magazine GQ Bayern Munich’s chief executive expressed a belief that clubs should be free to decide for themselves whether to open the door to outside investors.

The 50+1 rule limits the controlling options of any one sharholder in an agreement unique to the German game but never yet tested in a court of law.

A general meeting of all 36 clubs in the top Bundesliga divisions will decide on March 22 whether to maintain the status quo or explore the options for managed change.

Rummenigge said: “I hope the Bundesliga will relax the rule. I think each club should decide for itself if it opens up to investors, how much it opens up to investors or whether it does not open up.”

On other issues Rummenigge predicted a further explosion in the value of television with the possible entry of Netflix, Amazon etc into the market and he also criticised UEFA’s too-gentle application of its financial fair play controls.

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