Mini job for girlfriend as payment - 500 million euros black money in amateur football?

Created: 01/19/2022, 12:38 p.m

By: Corbinian Kothny

500 million euros in black money is paid in German amateur football.

This was the result of an ARD survey.

(Iconic image) © Imago images/Hanno Bode

Does amateur football have a massive black money problem?

According to an ARD research, huge sums of amateur player salaries flow past the German tax authorities.

Munich

– A billion euros in player salaries?

And 500 million euros of that tax-free?

These incredible numbers result from an ARD research on the subject of payment in amateur football.

Over 10,000 amateur footballers were surveyed.

Participants answered a questionnaire about which leagues they play in, what they earn, and whether their earnings are recorded in writing.

The data was collected in October 2020. If the earnings of all 700,000 amateur players in Germany are extrapolated for the whole year, the result is the almost unbelievable sum of one billion euros.

And since half of all those surveyed stated that they received the money illegally, this results in an amount of 500 million euros in illegal money in German amateur football per year.

ARD research: 36.4 percent still get money in the district league

The payment culture is not only limited to the highest amateur leagues in Germany. 60.2 percent of the male respondents between the ages of 18 and 39 stated that they had received money for playing in an amateur club once or more. According to the survey, even in the district league, 36.4 percent of hobby footballers still receive remuneration for their hobby.

The amateur players therefore receive a fixed monthly salary and/or point and victory bonuses from their club.

And a total of 50 percent of the survey participants stated that they were not getting the money the right way.

Because according to the DFB rules of the game, amateur footballers may not receive more than 250 euros per month in reimbursement of expenses and/or expense allowances.

If a player gets more money, an amateur contract has to be signed - including taxes and social security contributions.

However, 8,500 amateur earnings per 700,000 amateur players suggest a certain black money culture in German amateur football.

The salary is therefore handed over to the player in black in an envelope.

Payment in German amateur football: mini-job for the girlfriend

In addition to the 'classic remuneration' in the envelope, the clubs are quite creative when it comes to payment.

18.2 percent of those surveyed stated that they had already been rewarded with goods and services.

An apartment or car provided by the association is no exception.

According to the survey participants, hiring a girlfriend for a mini job that is not practiced, handyman services or an alleged engagement as a youth coach are also ways of being paid.

The documentary "Amateur football billions game - when the money comes in an envelope" will be played on January 19 at 11:30 p.m. on the first.

(kk)