The Bundesliga has asked FIFA to extend the halftime break at soccer matches by five minutes to sell more beer and sausage in stadiums.
The German league's front office confirmed Wednesday it has written soccer's world governing body and its regulations committee asking to change the break from 15 to 20 minutes.
According to the Bundesliga, the current pause between halves doesn't allow enough time for all fans to be served. A Schalke study said the change could generate an extra DM300,000 (US$375,000) annually for the clubs.
"We have to extend the stay of fans in the stadium. In this extra five minutes, the profit in the catering area can be raised considerably," said Manfred Mueller, head of marketing for Werder Bremen.
Mueller originated the idea, focusing on the benefits to clubs of serving hungry and thirsty German fans during matches inside stadiums.
But the extra minutes would also allow German television to jam in more commercials, following years of complaints that soccer is a huge draw in the country, but impossible to earn money on because there are no breaks for spots during the games.
The Bundesliga's plan, if approved, would affect all of soccer around the world since the sport's regulators usually apply changes of this magnitude across the board, down to amateur matches.
The Bundesliga will take its proposal to the International Football Association Board meeting on Feb. 29, the rules committee composed of four FIFA members and representatives from the sport's founding members, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
The Germans would need to win three-quarters of the vote from the IFAB to push through the change. However, Bundesliga officials were optimistic -- although their plan would be a break from the sport's tradition.
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