The German Football League (DFL) has announced its decision to halt the sale of a stake in its media rights income to an external investor. The move comes after months of disruptive protests by fans following a vote by first- and second-tier football clubs in December to allow a financial investor to acquire a stake in the DFL media arm in a deal valued between €900 million and €1 billion.

In a statement on Wednesday, DFL's board spokesperson, Hans-Joachim Watzke, cited the impossibility of a successful continuation of the process due to the ongoing fan protests. The protests, which have caused significant disruptions during games, have involved fans using unconventional methods such as remote-controlled cars, airplanes, and even attaching bicycle locks to goalposts to voice their opposition.

Watzke emphasized that any attempts to revive the deal through new votes would only lead to further complications, and that the DFL's focus now is to engage in discussions with clubs to assess the situation.

The decision to abandon the media rights deal is a setback for the DFL, which had been aiming to increase revenues through external investment. The Bundesliga, responsible for top-tier and second-tier German football, ranks as Europe's second-biggest league by revenue, following England's Premier League. This move highlights the growing trend across European leagues to seek external funding through broadcasting arrangements to enhance earnings and expand their global presence.