As Chairwoman of the German Football League and Vice President of the German Football Association, Donata Hopfen is probably the most powerful woman in German football. After barely a year in office, she obviously has to fear being voted out. According to one report, she has lost crucial trust.
According to a media report, Donata Hopfen could be replaced as head of the German Football League (DFL) before Christmas. The cooperation with the 46-year-old has been discussed for a few weeks in the DFL executive committee and the six-member DFL supervisory board chaired by Hans-Joachim Watzke, the managing director of Borussia Dortmund. According to a report by “Kicker”, hops have lost the trust of the supervisory board. Supposedly there is dissatisfaction with their work in the committees.
The DFL boss is said not to have convinced her critics on important issues such as the 50 1 rule or digitization and internationalization. The 50 1 rule only applies to German professional football and is intended to ensure that the registered parent club retains decision-making power even if it has spun off its professional football department into a corporation. It limits the influence of external investors.
The DFL supervisory board is meeting this week. According to information from “Kicker”, your contract, which runs until the end of 2024, could be terminated. “We always have meetings. That’s part of it. I don’t have to fuss too much now. There will be a meeting soon. Then we’ll see,” said Hertha manager Fredi Bobic, who is also a member of the DFL supervisory board, on MagentaTV . Bobic also said about a possible separation from hops: “Currently I can’t confirm that.” Bobic added: “What am I supposed to deny if it’s not like that.”
In addition to Watzke and Bobic, Oliver Leki, the CFO of SC Freiburg, Rüdiger Frisch, President of second division leaders Darmstadt 98, Gladbach Managing Director Stephan Schippers and Paderborn’s Finance Director Ralf Huschen also belong to the DFL Supervisory Board. Regarding the alleged dissatisfaction with hops, Bobic said: “These are issues that I can’t discuss publicly. I’m not allowed to discuss them publicly either.”
Donata Hopfen has been DFL boss since January 1, 2022 and successor to Christian Seifert, who controlled the league from 2005 to 2021. In her current position, the 46-year-old also holds the post of Vice President of the DFB and is therefore probably the most powerful woman in German football. Before being appointed DFL boss, she was chair of the publishing management of the “Bild” group and then digital consultant for the consulting firm BCG Digital Ventures.
(This article was first published on Sunday, December 04, 2022.)