Watzke and DFL chief continue to call for dialogue amid escalating protests

Ahead of another weekend in which widespread fan protests appear set to disrupt and delay matches in Germany’s top two footballing flights, 1. FC Köln have released a letter declaring the club’s full support for a re-vote of the December-sanctioned DFL licensing deal.  Other Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs are taking a similar stance. Proponents of the measure – notably DFL supervisory board chairmen Hans Joachim Watzke and DFL managing director Steffen Merkel – continue to call for dialogue between the league body and fan groups.  Germany’s main sporting tabloid claims to know which way all 36 clubs voted in December’s secret ballot. The sticking point continues to be whether or not Hannover 96 boss Martin Kind voted for the measure against his club’s instructions.