Outgoing CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says the controversy surrounding his presidential candidacy at Borussia Dortmund has hurt him personally because he gave members hope for an end to the controversial sponsorship with the arms manufacturer (ed. note „Rheinmetall“), BTA reported.
At next weekend's general meeting, he will be appointed president of the club after 20 years as head. Just days before the event, current boss Reinhold Lunov hinted that he wanted to stay, which was perceived as an insult to Watzke.
Lunov has already stepped down, but Watzke has felt the effects of the power struggle. „I have experienced some things in the last six months that I had not experienced this in 20 years. Things that weighed heavily on me, personally," he told schwatzgelb.de.
“The sponsors and I have spoken and are in the process of normalizing our relationship. Relationships that have been very good for many, many years. If there had been even one vote against in any committee, we would not have done it. I signed the contracts and after the ink was dry, suddenly there were people in responsible positions who distanced themselves from it“, Watzke said.
He said he wanted to raise the issue again at the general meeting at the end of 2026, before the contract with the arms company expires next year. “And if then it turns out that the majority of members want us not to extend the contract, I will work to ensure that“, Watzke promised. At the meeting however, in 2024, members had already voted by a majority against a new agreement.