Matthias Tillmann, Chairman of the board of Aufsteiger FC Schalke 04, has criticized the distribution of television revenue in German professional football weeks before the start of the new Bundesliga season. Speaking to the “Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung” (FAS), Tillmann stated that the disparity in TV income in the Bundesliga is particularly wide, noting that it is significantly greater than in leagues like the English Premier League. He argues that such an imbalance harms the attractiveness of the Bundesliga, stating that a competition where the winner is often predetermined before the season ends is inherently uninteresting.
The amount of television money each Bundesliga club receives is partly determined by its sporting performance over the five previous seasons. Currently, Schalke ranks second to last in this financial ranking. Although Tillmann pointed out that the club benefits from a large, sold-out stadium and a massive fanbase across the country, which should lead to high TV viewership, he expressed frustration: “Despite this, we receive less from the TV pot than 16 other clubs. Is this really correct?”
Tillmann also voiced his criticism regarding the Bundesliga’s capital rule. According to this rule, Schalke 04 must generate a surplus of approximately 10 million euros next season to avoid a point deduction. Tillmann predicts that achieving this will require special income, such as from player sales, stating this represents an enormous disadvantage for competitive integrity. The rule is currently enforced because the club’s balance sheet shows negative capital of nearly 100 million euros. He contended that no other Bundesliga club is in a comparable situation. The club chief further argued that the regulation fails to adequately account for the club’s assets; he claimed that the Schalke stadium alone, which is mostly owned by the club, is worth more than 100 million euros.
