Hertha BSC is not only struggling with sporting problems, but also with major financial problems. The club from the German capital has to cut back considerably in order to be able to be active in professional football next season. Meanwhile, a relegation to the Second Bundesliga is almost inevitable.
Hertha BSC ‘burns’ 250 million
Not so long ago, Hertha was a hyper-ambitious club led by German entrepreneur Lars Windhorst, who said he pumped 375 million euros into the club. However, due to problems with payments and the lack of sporting successes, a lot of criticism followed last year. In November, Windhorst sold its shares to the American investment fund 777 Partners.
Working with 777 Partners, which is not undisputed at other football clubs such as Standard Liège and Genoa, was a necessity according to Hertha. “There was no alternative,” chairman Kay Bernstein told a general meeting on Sunday. “This capital injection was fundamental to secure the club’s future.”
According to Bernstein, under Windhorst’s leadership, 250 million euros were ‘burned’. “This madness must never happen again,” the president added. According to Kicker, Hertha is struggling with a hole in the budget of sixty million euros for the coming season. It is still not certain whether the club from Berlin will receive a professional license from the DFL.
Cardiff is suing Nantes and demanding 100 million after Sala’s death
Cardiff City have filed a lawsuit against Nantes. The club from Wales is demanding an amount of no less than one hundred million euros from the French. This as a result of the death of attacker Emíliano Sala in 2019.
In the winter transfer window of the 2018-2019 season, Cardiff took over the Argentinian from Nantes. However, the then 28-year-old striker died in a plane crash two days after he signed his contract. On the way to Wales, the plane Sala was on crashed. It was fatal to him.
The AFP news agency reported on Monday that Nantes confirmed that Cardiff had filed the lawsuit. This happened after the clubs could not agree on the financial settlement of the case. In 2019, Cardiff still had to pay six million to Nantes. At the time, Cardiff estimated the damage at seventeen million euros, the purchase amount of Sala, but now the Welsh club is demanding one hundred million euros.
According to Cardiff, the hundred million would also be due to the ‘loss of income’ after Sala’s death. Nantes is not worried about Cardiff’s new move, which, according to French lawyers, only wants to buy time in the case. “After being clearly rejected by FIFA, CAS and the Swiss Federal Court, Cardiff is opening a new absurd legal front,” the lawyers said. “Cardiff first estimated the so-called damage at 17 million and that claim was rejected. Now, before a civil court, Cardiff estimates the same damage at €100 million.”
