Right, we're back! 🥳 On the terraces this week: 🇩🇪 How German football has reacted to the FIFA scandal 💲 Bundesliga chiefs mull fresh private equity offer 🌏 International friendlies 🇬🇧 Hansa Rostock conquer London Full stories on Gegenpressing: gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

On the terraces: Germany reacts to FIFA scandal, Hansa conquer London

In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.

gegenpressing.substack.com

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham: "My view is strengthening [that] this was an outrageous suggestion. The idea that it could even be brought forward, in my view, shows that the FIFA general secretary is the wrong man to lead the organisation."

Matt Ford@matt4d.bsky.social · 5d ago

Latest, as of midday Friday: - Senior FIFA advisor Cordeiro quits over "bad deal for football" - CONCACAF & AFC back UEFA - But: FIFA double down and push plans for 64-team World Cup? - Plus the German angle, the Bundesliga's investment plans and the 50+1 rule www.dw.com/en/fifa-plan...

Latest, as of midday Friday: - Senior FIFA advisor Cordeiro quits over "bad deal for football" - CONCACAF & AFC back UEFA - But: FIFA double down and push plans for 64-team World Cup? - Plus the German angle, the Bundesliga's investment plans and the 50+1 rule www.dw.com/en/fifa-plan...

FIFA plans: Infantino under pressure as senior advisor quits

After regional football federations condemned FIFA plans for private investment, Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, tendered his resignation.

dw.com

⁠"Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports." Ah, yes, of course. www.dw.com/en/fifa-doub...

FIFA doubles down on investor plan after UEFA boycott threat

FIFA says it will continue to pursue its controversial investor plans despite opposition from regional football confederations in Europe, Asia and North America. "Nobody is selling football," the body...

dw.com

Historic stuff. Let's see if they follow through. As has been pointed out, the U20 Women's World Cup starts on September 5 featuring: Poland (hosts), England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain. www.uefa.com/news-media/n...

Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 national associations

UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.

uefa.com

It is very hard to see how anything other than a secession of all UEFA countries from Fifa (which other confederations would follow, as the WC is worth very little without European teams and markets) can put a stop to the assault Infantino and his US friends are leading on football.

🇫🇷 Went to the south of France for a bit. 🇩🇪 German football stickers spotted and documented in ascending order: ✖️1️⃣ SC Fortuna Köln 1. FC Nürnberg TSG Hoffenheim Karlsruher SC FC Schalke 04 SG Dynamo Dresden Hertha BSC VfL Osnabrück 1. FC Magdeburg 1. FC Union Berlin Hamburger SV Chemnitzer FC

Man kann den Amis aber auch dankbar sein. Denn genau so könnte es in Deutschland bzw. Europa auch aussehen. Also wehrt euch. Organisierte Fußballfans sind mächtig. Werdet Mitglied in eurem Verein. Geht zur MV. Bringt euch ein. Unterstützt eure Ultras. Kämpft für 50+1. Damit es nicht so wird.

Matt Ford@matt4d.bsky.social · 2w ago

Dystopian shit, this.

Dystopian shit, this.

US Soccer, the USMNT and Pochettino also coming out of this terribly. And the French Football Federation should be careful too, regardless of their claim that the Balogun/Olise issues are unrelated. What a pathetic state of affairs.

What Gianni Infantino has to say about the Balogun debacle.

RBFA update: "FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible ... Furthermore, during the match coordination meeting, FIFA deliberately removed the section concerning the automatic suspension of players from its presentation." www.rbfa.be/en/news/upda...

Statement from Belgian FA.

Ronaldo's pre-tournament suspension overturned Messi's stamp vs. Algeria not punished The Iranian team disadvantaged and humiliated Ad breaks fundamentally altering the game And now a host govt lobbying to have red cards rescinded Are we all just going along with this farce?

#DFB: "Regarding a new head coach, the DFB leadership will seek discussions with Jürgen Klopp. He has already signalled his fundamental willingness to take on the role."

Heater of an interview. Must watch territory

Matt Ford@matt4d.bsky.social · last mo.

Gegenpressing exclusive: @manuelveth.bsky.social & I chat to Benjamin Weber, decade-long assistant to Thomas Tuchel and now Augsburg sporting director, about the importance of North America to the #Bundesliga - plus England's World Cup chances. gegenpressing.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

Gegenpressing exclusive: @manuelveth.bsky.social & I chat to Benjamin Weber, decade-long assistant to Thomas Tuchel and now Augsburg sporting director, about the importance of North America to the #Bundesliga - plus England's World Cup chances. gegenpressing.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

Exclusive Interview! FC Augsburg bosses on the World Cup, Tuchel and the failed Wagner experiment

On this week’s main show, Manu and Matt were joined by FC Augsburg CEO Michael Ströll and sporting director Benjamin Weber.

gegenpressing.substack.com

Good work BBC Verify here. This sort of thing needs to be more widely understood. ‘Infantino's travel is believed to have produced roughly the amount of CO2e in just over a fortnight as about 78 people might produce across a calendar year.’

World Cup 2026: How Fifa president Gianni Infantino is jetting around

Gianni Infantino has clocked up thousands of air miles across North America so far.

bbc.co.uk

New for @josimarfootball.bsky.social by @samindrakunti.bsky.social: Gianni Infantino has already clocked up 50,000 kilometers in the private jet provided to him by Qatar Airways during this World Cup.

International Jet Set  - josimarfootball.com

Fifa president Gianni Infantino clocked over 50,000 km on a private jet during the World Cup group stage.

josimarfootball.com

Schweinsteiger said the Ivorians played "African football" which he characterized as "a bit unorthodox sometimes, a bit wild, not quite as tactical." Some might say Schweinsteiger's punditry is a bit wild and not particularly tactical, to be honest 🤷‍♂️ www.dw.com/en/schweinst...

Schweinsteiger's Ivory Coast comments spark racism debate

Bastian Schweinsteiger's TV analysis of Germany's World Cup opponents Ivory Coast appeared to draw on racist stereotypes. For some observers, the comments are evidence that racist tropes are still com...

dw.com

Last week the Economist ran a piece saying how the UK government should use the Premier League as an example of how to boost our economy. This week’s reader’s letter from Marcus Hudson perfectly debunks the idea and points to the better economic foundations of the Bundesliga:

🏆 #DFBPokal 1st round draw, selected ties: SC St. Tönis (V) – Eintracht Frankfurt HEBC Hamburg (V) – Borussia Dortmund VfL Osnabrück vs. FC Bayern München TSV Schott Mainz (V) – Bor. M'gladbach FC Hansa Rostock vs. VfB Stuttgart (again 😂) SV Waldhof Mannheim vs. 1. FC Kaiserslautern (🔥) (1/2)

Wie wichtig es ist, die 50+1-Regel in Deutschland konsequent durchzusetzen, hat der TSV 1860 München jetzt zwei Mal bewiesen. Da sollten wirklich alle Diskussionen erstmal verstummen.

First draft of the summer United We Stand cover. It’s out June 17th. You’ll get this included in your subscription at no extra cost. Deadline to renew is June 9th. uwsonline.com/subscribe.php

Sehr gute Berichterstattung der SZ zum offenbar erneuten (und nach wie vor verbandsrechtlich nicht umsetzbaren) Erpressungsversuch der Investoren-Seite. Es ist wirklich erstaunlich. 50+1 muss nicht nur bleiben, sie muss auch weiter verstärkt werden. #tsv1860 www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/1860-m...

🔵 Confirmed: TSV 1860 München will not receive a 3. Liga license and will be forcibly relegated to the semi-pro, fourth-tier Bavarian regional league (Regionalliga Bayern) - which includes FC Bayern München II.

Matt Ford@matt4d.bsky.social · 2mo ago

TSV 1860 München appear to be on the brink of a second forced relegation to the fourth tier after 2017. The 5pm deadline to prove to the DFB €2.7m worth of liquidity to secure a 3. Liga license after investor Hasan Ismaik (60% stake but minority voting rights) cancelled planned loans has passed.

TSV 1860 München appear to be on the brink of a second forced relegation to the fourth tier after 2017. The 5pm deadline to prove to the DFB €2.7m worth of liquidity to secure a 3. Liga license after investor Hasan Ismaik (60% stake but minority voting rights) cancelled planned loans has passed.

🇩🇪 On the terraces in Germany this week: 🟡 Lok Leipzig lose third promotion play-off in six years 🔵 Lok fans: "Your system is sick" 🔴 Würzburg promoted ⚪️ Kickers' fans call for reform 🆙 What next? Regional League reform latest Bonus final newsletter: gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

On the terraces: Lok Leipzig lose Regionalliga play-off, reform momentum grows

In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from choreographies to fan protests to finances.

gegenpressing.substack.com

Lok Leipzig head coach Jochen Seitz resigns after: - 2x Regionalliga Nordost titles - Sachsenpokal victory over third-tier Erzgebirge Aue - Taking eventual 2. Bundesliga champions Schalke to extra-time in the DFB-Pokal - 5/6 derby wins, combined score: 14-2 - Two defeats in promotion play-offs

Matt Ford@matt4d.bsky.social · 2mo ago

FC Würzburger Kickers 2-1 1. FC Lok Leipzig (Agg: 3-1) For the second consecutive season and the third time this decade, Lok Leipzig win the Regionalliga Nordost but lose a promotion play-off - this time deservedly to a good Würzburg team who finished 2nd (🤷‍♂️) in Bavaria. #MeisterMüssenAufsteigen!

Video piece on PSG’s Champions League win, and Qatar showing we’re onto the next stage of sportswashing All of the criticisms of the 2022 World Cup apply, but there’s very little mention - all as Qatar exert immense influence in European football youtu.be/jWrHAhcZ5ww?...

The dark truth behind PSG’s Champions League dominance

YouTube video by Miguel Delaney's Inside Football

youtu.be