Markus Wiegand vs. ARD and ZDF: spat over soccer expert fees

How the portal Kress.com According to reports from the magazine Kress Pro, former soccer star Scholl is to be "compensated" with 1.6 million euros per year from the ARD fee pot for his services as an ARD expert. Former national team goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is also to be paid a seven-figure sum for his ZDF punditry. That would be up to 50,000 euros per assignment.

The two public broadcasters initially remain silent about the figures, but claim that they have to pay the experts in line with the market. This is understandable, says Kress editor-in-chief Markus Wiegand, who describes the sums as a "scandal". "The vast majority of viewers would never approve of such sums if they knew about them. That's why ARD and ZDF prefer to keep the fees for their football public information broadcasters secret." And he goes in his editorial even further: "Scholl and Kahn would actually have to bring money with them to be allowed to use the jointly financed platform. After all, they both market themselves as advertising media and their value lies above all in the fact that they are permanently present in places with high ratings."

The former long-standing editor-in-chief of the specialist magazine Schweizer Journalist is generally against the idea that broadcasts of major sporting events should be paid for by the public sector. This is because private broadcasters would be able to refinance them if the public broadcasters did not outbid them with fee money when awarding rights. ARD and ZDF value football finals and Olympic Games so much because they want to gain legitimacy from the public.

"Almost resembles deliberate malice"

In the course of Tuesday, ARD then takes a clear stance on the circulating figures. "It is almost like deliberate malice what figures are being written and multiplied here in connection with Mehmet Scholl's expert contract," said ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky. "These sums currently being bandied about do not even come close to reality and have no basis whatsoever". However, according to Balkausky, ARD will not comment on the content of contracts with employees.
However, the sources on which Wiegand's published figures are based are still unclear.

The expert concerned, Oliver Kahn, also spoke out on Facebook on Tuesday. It was a "blatant false report that lacks any basis". Kress.de spread misinformation that was deliberately intended to create envy and resentment among the public and spoil viewers' enjoyment of the coverage. Kahn also pointed out that he would not take legal action against the publication. (hae)