Football players in Germany go naked in artist protest

August 17, 2020

Two football teams in the town of Oer-Erkenschwick in North Rhine-Westphalia played a game on Sunday completely naked, as part of a protest against money in football.

The game was organized by the artist Gerrit Starczewski at the Stimberg Stadium on the northern edge of Germany’s industrial Ruhr area.

“The football system is sick, that’s why we all get naked,” the 34-year-old artist said.

“Everybody wants to have authenticity. But I think you are only particularly authentic if you do without all the other stuff, really everything, from the advertising banners to the clothing,” Starczewski told sports magazine 11Freunde ahead of the match.

The players only wore football shoes and socks, with the sock colors separated by team in order to differentiate who played for whom. Players’ numbers were hand-painted on their backs.

Read more: Gianni Infantino FIFA investigation: The five big questions

Starczewski’s critique hit at the heart of what many see as a growing problem: the growing commercialization of world football. It also comes weeks after Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal probe against the head of football’s governing body (FIFA) for alleged “rampant, systemic, deep-rooted” corruption.

But the artist also wanted took a jab at the superficiality of the sport. “With my nude actions, I also want to set an example for diversity and naturalness and against the dependence and influence of social media and false ideals of beauty,” Starczewski said.

Body authenticity is something that is absent in modern football and that is reflected in how the sport sells a certain kind of body image. “Everything has to be perfect there too, and in the end it’s all about commercialization,” Starczewski added.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Barcelona – 840.8 million euros

The Catalans top the Money League for the very first time and are the first football club ever to generate an annual revenue of more than €800 million. Barca have increased their revenue by more than €150m compared to 2019 after bringing merchandizing and licensing activities in-house. The club’s biggest asset remains Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar is not for sale.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Real Madrid – 757.3 million euros

Barcelona’s archrivals Real Madrid have dropped to second place after a year of mixed results on the pitch. The 13-times European champions increased their revenue by only 0.99 percent from last year (€750.9m) but that could change again in 2020. The club from the Spanish capital are after the signatures of big names such as Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé to usher in a new Galacticos era.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Manchester United – 711.5 million euros

Two years ago, the Red Devils topped the Deloitte ranking but now Manchester United are back down to third, just as in 2019. The 20-times English champions increased their revenue by almost 50 million euros this year but, with on-pitch struggles again leaving Champions League qualification in doubt, they are in danger of being superceded by local rivals Manchester City in next year’s Money League.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Bayern Munich – 660.1 million euros

New Bayern president Herbert Hainer (left) has inherited a healthy club from Uli Hoeness (right). The Bavarian giants increased their revenue by €31m this year, but an extended deal with automobile partner and 8.33% shareholder Audi is reported to be worth a further €50m a year until 2029. Despite earning less TV money than English or Spanish clubs, Bayern held on to fourth place in the ranking.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Paris St. Germain – 635.9 million euros

For the past eight years, the French club have been financed by the Qatari state investment group QSI. The Qataris have pumped hundreds of millions into the club in order to sign top players like Neymar and hire quality coaches such as Thomas Tuchel, formerly of Borussia Dortmund. The club’s main goal has been to lift the Champions League trophy but money hasn’t proven to be enough so far.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Manchester City – 610.6 million euros

Another club bankrolled by a Gulf state and which dreams of winning the Champions League, Manchester City have been owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group since 2008, changing the fortunes of a club which spent decades in their red neighbor’s shadow. Since the takeover, City have won the Premier League four times and in 2016 they hired coach Pep Guardiola with Champions League success in mind.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Liverpool – 604.7 million euros

But where Man City have so far failed, Liverpool have succeeded. The Reds won a sixth Champions League / European Cup in 2019 under German coach Jürgen Klopp, but it’s been 30 years since they were last crowned English champions. This season, that dream is closer than ever, and lifting the Premier League trophy should translate into more revenue for the Merseyside club in 2020.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Tottenham Hotspur – 521.1 million euros

Spurs owe their improved place in the ranking mainly to their brand new stadium, opened in April 2019. Increased matchday earnings at the “New White Hart Lane” hav contributed to a 21% rise in total revenue, enabling last season’s Champions League finalists to leapfrog local North London rivals Arsenal into eighth place – a record high for the club currently managed by Jose Mourinho.

Football Money League: the richest football clubs on the planet

Juventus – 459.7 million euros

Italian record champions Juventus moved back into the top 10 with Deloitte claiming that the arrival of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo “increased Juventus’ commercial appeal”. The 34-year-old joined Juventus from Real Madrid for more than €100 million in July 2018. other signings such as Matthijs de Ligt also boosted Juventus’ brand visibility and commercial revenue.

Author: Andreas Sten-Ziemons