INKOVEMA Podcast „Well through time“

#142 – Mediation at the intersection of sport and business

Conflict management and mediation potential in professional Bundesliga football

In conversation with Ingo Schiller (former Hertha BSC)

Well through time. The podcast about mediation, conflict coaching and organisational consulting.

Ingo SchillerBusiness economist and long-standing CFO of Hertha BSC; from 1992-1998, Ingo Schiller worked for the traditional club Borussia Mönchengladbach, responsible for sports marketing and the stadium project at the time; in 1998, Schiller moved to Berlin to join Hertha BSC, where he was responsible for commercial matters. In 2013, Schiller joined the Bundesliga managers, who represent the interests of the Bundesliga clubs on the supervisory board of the DFL league association. Schiller also represents the league association on the board of the German Football Association (DFB). Schiller will leave Hertha BSC in 2022 to train as a mediator.

Contents

Mediation in the context of professional football: Conflict management plays a crucial role in the context of professional football, especially in the Bundesliga. Conflicts can arise between players, coaches, fan clubs, municipalities and cities, club management or even between the clubs themselves. Mediation is an increasingly proven method of conflict resolution in this area.

Mediation offers those involved in professional football an effective way of resolving conflicts in a fair and sustainable manner. An experienced mediator can help to bring the parties together and facilitate the communication process. Ultimately, the decisive factor here is that all clubs are dependent on the public and ultimately operate an interesting sports and entertainment machine together.

During mediation, the relevant conflict issues are identified and the points of view of all parties involved are heard. An understanding of the underlying needs is developed through individual discussions with the parties. Criteria are then developed that must be met in order for all parties to agree to a solution.

The advantage of mediation in professional football is that it preserves the relationship between the parties and facilitates long-term solutions. It offers the opportunity to reach joint agreements that are acceptable to all parties involved. As a result, conflicts can not only be resolved, but preventative measures can also be taken to avoid future conflicts.

Conflict constellations in professional football

  • Player-coach conflictsConflicts between players and coaches can arise if there are differences of opinion about playing strategies, playing times or personal differences, especially with regard to non-sporting activities (social media, advertising contracts, etc., which contribute to visibility).
  • Player-club management conflictsConflicts between players and club management can arise when it comes to contract negotiations, salary demands, transfer decisions or club policy.
  • Association-association conflictsConflicts between different clubs can arise, for example in transfer negotiations, distortions of competition or disputes over match dates.
  • Fan-club management conflictsConflicts between fans and club management can arise when it comes to decisions regarding ticket prices, stadium expansion or club identity. This is a particularly emotionalised and contested area, which is particularly controversial „ here in Saxony with RB Leipzig and Dynamo Dresden, for example“...
  • Media-club management conflictsConflicts can arise between the media and the club management when it comes to reporting, press conferences or dealing with scandals.

These conflicts can lead to tension and unrest and affect the performance of the team or the organisation. In such situations, mediation can be a valuable method of resolving conflicts, improving communication and finding long-term solutions.

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