1. FC Union Berlin’s Annual General Meeting for the 2020/21 financial year took place on Thursday December 2, 2021.
With the current challenges due to the pandemic, the meeting took place virtually. Members had personal access in advance and could tune in through various digital platforms. Of the current 40,531 members, an all-time high of 4,274 were present at the virtual meeting.
1. FC Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler reported: “We have achieved an outstanding result in sporting terms with 7th in the Bundesliga and the following qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League. This sporting success and following investments in recent years have meant that the club’s squad, rights and hidden reserves are currently more valuable than at any point in the club’s history. We will continue on this course and make further, significant steps in the coming years.”
Dirk Zingler explained the premise behind the decisions of the last fiscal year. There was no weakening of the squad, no rights and no threat to the club’s solvency. 1. FC Union Berlin generated 71.25 million euros for the 2020/21 fiscal year with 81.62 million euros outgoing. There was a negative revenue result of -10.37 million euros.
The president added: “Sporting success is the basis for the club’s economic performance. It would have been possible to achieve a balanced result with transfers, the exploitation of club-owned rights or anticipated income. We made a conscious decision not to do this in the current situation, so as not to weaken our sporting position or sell any of our assets below value. There was no reason to do so, as our solvency was guaranteed at all times. For years, our actual assets have been significantly greater than our balance sheet liabilities. That is also the case this year.”
For the current 2021/22 season, 1. FC Union Berlin are planning on an expected 96.45 million euros and outgoings of 96.22 million euros.
Expansion of the Stadion An der Alten Försterei
Dirk Thieme, Member of the Executive Committee, reported in on the current status of the development plans for the stadium. This has been underway since 2017. Now it has been possible to reach an extensive agreement with the responsible administration regarding future traffic development. In view of the stage reached in developing planning, obtaining the right to build in the summer of 2022 is currently looking possible and realistic. In addition, the length of time for this procedure has allowed the club to review previous plans and adjust accordingly. Union will present the revised plans at a separate event.
Construction of Youth Academy Centre
Following the start of construction of the Youth Academy Centre, the work is ongoing. Lutz Munack, Member of the Executive Committee and Managing Director for Youth and Academy, reported the construction side at Bruno-Bürgel-Weg is set up. Work is on going at the site on the ground until the end of December. The aim is to finish construction in late summer 2023.
Executive Committee, Supervisory Board and Honorary Council discharged
In accordance with its responsibilities under the club’s Articles of Association, the Supervisory Board of 1. FC Union Berlin approved the club’s annual financial statements and discharged the executive committee for the 2020/2021 financial year. The general meeting voted by a clear majority to approve the actions of the supervisory board and honorary council.
Amendment to the Articles of Association resolved
New in the statutes of 1. FC Union Berlin is a passage on the protection of the welfare of children. With the necessary majority, it was decided to add the following sentences 4 and 5 to § 2 paragraph 1 of the statutes:
“The club condemns any form of violence, regardless of whether it is physical, mental or sexual. It sets itself the task of initiating measures to protect children, young people and adults from all forms of violence.”
Closing words
This year, the closing words of the virtual general meeting belonged to the head coach of 1. FC Union Berlin. Urs Fischer thanked all Unioners via video message for their support and looks forward to hopefully seeing them again soon at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.