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He became a member of the League Board on 7 August 2007. In 2009, Seifert was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board of the [[Bundesliga Foundation]], and a spokesman for the IPD Initiative Profisport Deutschland (Professional Sports Initiative Germany) in November 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profisport-deutschland.de/koepfe/ |title=Kopfe der IPD |publisher=Initiative Profisport Deutschland |access-date=2016-06-09 |language=German |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129014142/http://www.profisport-deutschland.de/koepfe/ |archive-date=2016-01-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He became a member of the League Board on 7 August 2007. In 2009, Seifert was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board of the [[Bundesliga Foundation]], and a spokesman for the IPD Initiative Profisport Deutschland (Professional Sports Initiative Germany) in November 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profisport-deutschland.de/koepfe/ |title=Kopfe der IPD |publisher=Initiative Profisport Deutschland |access-date=2016-06-09 |language=German |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129014142/http://www.profisport-deutschland.de/koepfe/ |archive-date=2016-01-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2020, as DFL Managing Director, Seifert played a key role in the fact that the Bundesliga was the first league in the world to resume play after a break of around two months due to the [[covid-19 pandemic]] – on 16 May 2020 in stadiums without an audience. After Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga games were suspended on 13 March 2020 due to covid-19, the DFL developed a “six-point plan to save the Bundesliga” under Seifert’s leadership and approved it with those responsible in politics and representatives of the professional clubs and medical experts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dfl.de/de/aktuelles/saison-fortsetzung-am-16-mai-rueckkehr-von-bundesliga-und-2-bundesliga-startet-mit-dem-26-spieltag/ |title=Saison-Fortsetzung am 16. Mai – Rückkehr von Bundesliga und 2. Bundesliga startet mit dem 26. Spieltag |date=7 May 2020 |publisher=DFL |access-date=15 April 2024 |language=German}}</ref> Many other organizers of major sporting events, including UEFA, the Olympic Games, the US Open, NFL and Formula 1, followed suit and took their lead from the DFL.<ref name="Seifert" />


Seifert also served as the chairman of the [[World Leagues Forum]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 November 2018 |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber appointed Vice-Chairman of World Leagues Forum |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/11/30/mls-commissioner-don-garber-appointed-vice-chairman-world-leagues-forum |publisher=[[Major League Soccer|MLSsoccer.com]] |accessdate=2 December 2018}}</ref>
Seifert also served as the chairman of the [[World Leagues Forum]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 November 2018 |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber appointed Vice-Chairman of World Leagues Forum |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/11/30/mls-commissioner-don-garber-appointed-vice-chairman-world-leagues-forum |publisher=[[Major League Soccer|MLSsoccer.com]] |accessdate=2 December 2018}}</ref>

Revision as of 10:36, 15 April 2024

Christian Seifert
Seifert in 2019
Born (1969-05-08) 8 May 1969 (age 55)
Rastatt, West Germany
NationalityGerman
EducationUniversity of Duisburg-Essen
Years active2005–present
Known forCEO of the Deutsche Fußball Liga

Christian Seifert (born 8 May 1969, in Rastatt) is a German entrepreneur and business manager who served as a CEO of the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) from 2019 to 2021. He was a member of the League Board and Vice President of the German Football Association (German: Deuscher Fuball-Bund, DFB). He was also Vice Chairman of the Board of the Bundesliga-Stiftung (Bundesliga Foundation) and spokesperson for the Initiative Profisport Deutschland (IPD). Since 2022, Seifert has been developing a streaming platform for non-soccer sports with Dyn Media, which launched in the summer of 2023.

Life

In his youth, Seifert played for FC Rastatt 04 in the association league.[1] Seifert graduated from the technical high school in Rastatt in 1988. At the University of Duisburg-Essen, he studied Communication studies, Marketing and Sociology from 1991 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Seifert worked for MGM MediaGruppe München, where he rose to head of product management. From 1998 to 2000, Seifert was Director of Marketing in Central Europe for MTV Networks. From 2000 to 2005, Seifert was Member of the Board of KarstadtQuelle New Media AG; and CEO there from 2004.[2]

Football official

In February 2005, Seifert became a member of the management board of DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH and on 1 July 2005, Seifert became the CEO of DFL German Football League and vice-president of the DFB. In the management of DFL, Seifert was, among other things, responsible for the strategic direction of the DFL.[3]

In 2005, Seifert was responsible for the first tender for media rights from a sports league in Europe. The European Commission had previously examined the assignment of rights for the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga and came to the conclusion that the rights should henceforth be assigned in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner as part of a tender. The EU wanted to promote competition and at least reduce the media buying power of Murdoch (England), Kirch (Germany) and Berlusconi (Italy).[4]

For the first time, Seifert and his team developed a media tender in which six scenarios were offered in parallel. The rights went to newcomer Arena, who outperformed existing rights holder Premiere. Premiere had offered 15,000 euros for the pay rights for the scenario with the Sportschau and 150 million if the sports show were to be abolished. Premiere's share price collapsed by 40% after the auction results were announced. The DFL achieved an increase in the rights sum from 275 to 420 million euros.[4]

He became a member of the League Board on 7 August 2007. In 2009, Seifert was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Bundesliga Foundation, and a spokesman for the IPD Initiative Profisport Deutschland (Professional Sports Initiative Germany) in November 2009.[5]

In 2020, as DFL Managing Director, Seifert played a key role in the fact that the Bundesliga was the first league in the world to resume play after a break of around two months due to the covid-19 pandemic – on 16 May 2020 in stadiums without an audience. After Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga games were suspended on 13 March 2020 due to covid-19, the DFL developed a “six-point plan to save the Bundesliga” under Seifert’s leadership and approved it with those responsible in politics and representatives of the professional clubs and medical experts.[6] Many other organizers of major sporting events, including UEFA, the Olympic Games, the US Open, NFL and Formula 1, followed suit and took their lead from the DFL.[4]

Seifert also served as the chairman of the World Leagues Forum.[7]

References

  1. ^ "DFL-Geschäftsführer Christian Seifert: Seine Karriere und Stationen" (in German). TZ. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Profil Christian Seifert" (in German). DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga. Archived from the original on 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  3. ^ "Christian Seifert". DFL. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Wolffsohn, Michael. "Laudatio auf Christian Seifert, Dortmund, 17. August 2022" (PDF) (in German). Wolffsohn. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Kopfe der IPD" (in German). Initiative Profisport Deutschland. Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  6. ^ "Saison-Fortsetzung am 16. Mai – Rückkehr von Bundesliga und 2. Bundesliga startet mit dem 26. Spieltag" (in German). DFL. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. ^ "MLS Commissioner Don Garber appointed Vice-Chairman of World Leagues Forum". MLSsoccer.com. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
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