BERLIN (AP) -The top football official in Germany has warned that the antitrust agency could destroy the country's ability to compete if it rules against the Bundesliga's central marketing plan.
Theo Zwanziger, president of the German Soccer Federation, joined other Bundesliga officials to protest the agency's anti-competitive investigation into a six-year, ?3 billion (US$4.7 billion) contract for the league broadcast rights that starts in 2009.
"The antitrust agency is endangering the ability of German football to compete internationally - not only for our clubs, but also the national team," said Zwanziger, whose federation would see income rise under the new contract.
Under the deal, Sirius gets exclusive first rights to broadcast all Bundesliga matches on its pay-TV station, Premiere.
Germany's antitrust agency has yet to decide whether to nullify the contract, paving the way for teams to cut their own television deals. The uncertainty leaves the Bundesliga's first and second division clubs unable to plan their budgets.
For some small clubs, broadcast money makes up half their annual budget. Central marketing has until now prevented the massive gap in broadcast income between clubs often seen elsewhere in Europe.
The Bundesliga believes agency rulings have hurt its ability to promote games and raise television revenues. Despite playing in Europe's largest market, TV income lags behind the leagues in Spain, England and Italy.
One complaint is the agency's demand that extensive match footage be shown on free television within a few hours after the final whistle on Saturday's matches. Premiere, however, insists it will only pay extra if more games are only on their pay-TV service.
"I can only warn, we are well on the way to massively damaging professional football in the country," Bundesliga chairman Christian Seifert said. "If the antitrust agency's demands have to be met, then we will not only lose the basis for our new TV contact - but marketing the game on television will be more difficult than ever."
Seifert said that, without more television revenue, the Bundesliga could not compete in the Champions League and UEFA Cup by retaining its best players.
"No fan can really want a situation where the superstars only play outside the country," Seifert said.
