Irresistible Bayern signal status quo amid silent protests in Bundesliga | Andy Brassell

Fans made their feelings clear about league negotiations with private equity firms and Bayern made a statement, too

Welcome to the winter of uncertainty. This was a weekend on which Bundesliga fans united to protest against the league’s clubs voting to press ahead and negotiate with private equity firms to sell a portion of international television rights, anathema to supporters who believe fans, rather than big business, should steer the direction of the game in Germany. There were 12 minutes of silence at the stadiums – representing the fans’ role as the 12th man – and the throwing of tennis balls and chocolate coins (Bochum’s Takuma Asano unwrapped and ate one of the coins, presumably giving him the extra energy to rattle in a volley and open the scoring in the 3-0 win over Union Berlin).

In a culture where supporter implication, and atmosphere, is the key tenet, there is little more eerie than a full stadium fallen silent. This was the second time this year that the option of approaching the private equity route was offered by the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) to its 36 clubs from the country’s top two divisions. The model would be similar to deals agreed in Spain and France, providing the clubs with an immediate cash injection in excess of €1bn in exchange for up to 8% of future overseas rights; giving the winning bidder a stake in a newly set-up media rights operation, the DFL has been at pains to point out, rather than in the league itself.