BERLIN (AP) -The chairman of the Bundesliga is worried that a battle with German antitrust authorities could cause financial difficulties for the league.
Christian Seifert told the Bild newspaper a six-year, ?3 billion (US$4.7 billion) deal with pay-TV channel Premiere for the Bundesliga broadcasting rights - which starts in 2009 - could be canceled if antitrust investigators conclude it is stifling competition.
"Then we will be forced to find new ways of doing things. Some decision-makers in Germany apparently believe a healthy and functioning Bundesliga is the natural state of things," Seifert said Saturday. "I can only warn, we are well on the way to massively damage professional football in the country."
Seifert also warned against other pieces of legislation that could drain the league's income, including a proposed ban on alcohol advertising in stadiums.
Seifert is also calling for an end to a state monopoly on betting on Bundesliga matches. If private companies were allowed to accept bets on football, Bundesliga income would increase by at least ?100 million (US$158 million), Seifert said.
Antitrust officials insist that footage from Bundesliga games should be made available on public television before 8 p.m. on Saturdays, which would allow a popular highlight program to keep broadcasting within an hour after the six games end simultaneously.
The Bundesliga hoped to push the highlights program back several hours to make more fans sign up for pay-TV. Higher advertising rates also would give private television the chance to compete with the current broadcaster, publicly funded ARD.
"We need more television income," Seifert said. "The Bundesliga is in competition with the top leagues in Spain, England or Italy. If the gap with them isn't closed, our chances in the UEFA Cup and Champions League sink automatically."
