Emmanuel Thomas, DPA, Sunday, May 14, 2023
BERLIN – Hertha Berlin are all but relegated from the Bundesliga, have amassed big debts and are yet to be granted a licence for the next season but club president Kay Bernstein hopes to turn their fortunes.
“We will be successful if we have overcome the burdensome financial legacy by 2025-26,” Bernstein told the club assembly on Sunday. “Our Berlin path is a forward-looking vision.”
Hertha in last place were five points away from the relegation-off spot and six from safety with two games left when Bernstein spoke, and should second-last Stuttgart win later in the day it would also be six points to the play-off spot.
This means that Hertha are all but relegated, but it remains to be seen if they will get a licence for the second division or must make a new start in the fourth tier, if worse comes to worst.
The German Football League (DFL) is probing Hertha over the 50+1 investor rule after they started a partnership with American investors 777 Partners. The rule aimed to make investor takeovers impossible says that a club must hold a majority of 50% plus one share.
Hertha are confronted with debts of €85 million ($92.2 million) and 777 Partners must make €100 available by the end of June to help Hertha get the licence.
Bernstein said “there was no alternative due to the problems of the past” to the engagement of 777 Partners which he named “a central foundation stone that gives Hertha the chance to redevelop” while at the same time not making themselves dependent from them.
