Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has hit out at the culture of English football in which fans are "milked".
Watzke, speaking on the rise of RB Leipzig in their debut Bundesliga season, doesn't want to see "English conditions" take advantage of supporters in Germany with the potential abolition of the 50+1 rule.
An investor in Dortmund would quickly see to it that 15,000 seats are made out of 28,000 standing places. This would generate several million more annually in revenue," he said, quoted inthe Mirror.
I would not want it. I want no English conditions in which the fans are milked."
The comments were a dig at newly promoted RB Leipzig, who are largely considered the most hated club in Germany due to their reliance on sponsorship to accommodate their big spending.
In the case of Rasenballsport (Leipzig), we have for the first time - even contrary to Hoffenheim or Wolfsburg - the case that nothing, nothing at all, has been grown historically," Watzke added.
There, football is played for the good of a beverage can.�
In response, RBL coachRalph Hasenhuttl hit back, replying:I do not give a single thought to the idea that we are here for the good of a drink, which would be a pity.
Instead I see the euphoria and joy that we are spreading to the city - which is the driving force for me - and we should be given the chance to make people happy in our own way."
RBL are level on points with giants Bayern Munichat the top of the Bundesliga table after ten games, six points ahead of Dortmund.