The legendary Berlin Fußball-Woche was published for the last time. It was no longer economically viable. An acquisition did not take place.
When league play resumes after the men’s international break, one thing will be missing: the Fußball-Woche from Berlin. One hundred and two years ago, in 1923, the football trade magazine was published for the first time. And on Monday, October 13, for the last time. On page 3, editor Horst Bläsig delivered the bad news, which is also available on the website.
“The toxic mix of revenue declines, rising costs and a lack of investment funds leaves us with no other option.” The closure of the FuWo had loomed over the last 30 years, but recently things were supposed to be turning upwards again. “Positive signals were there in the summer from the presidium of the Berlin Football Association (BFV).”
Failed Takeover
Specifically, it was about a bid to take over the renowned publication, but “shortly before the deadline for submissions we were informed that the BFV presidium would not submit an application.”
When amateur football had to rest for a year and a half during the pandemic, the editorial team barely stayed afloat, because the in-depth reports on lower-league football were the magazine’s hallmark. And inflation did not spare the Fußball-Woche either. Because sales, according to Bläsig, “no longer reached the level from the pre-crisis period,” and the new e-paper offering could not economically improve the situation, the “final whistle for the Fußball-Woche” follows.
Transparency note: The author has regularly written for the “Fußball-Woche”.
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