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Los Angeles FC offered to sell struggling Swiss club Grasshopper on Tuesday after fans protested with boos at a home game in Zurich.
The record 27-time Swiss champions are anchored to 11th place in the 12-team league since the star-studded LAFC ownership group bought a majority stake in January 2024. LAFC owners include entertainment titans Peter Guber and Mark Shapiro, Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra.
Grasshopper fans rioted this month after a Swiss Cup semi-final loss at second-placed Stade Lausanne Ouchy and unfurled a banner at a league game on Saturday telling the American owners forcefully to leave.
“The recent protests have called for us to leave the club,” LAFC said in a statement in English and German on Grasshopper’s website.
“We want to make it clear that we are open to discussions about a partial or full sale of (the club), provided it ensures the club’s long-term sustainability.”
Grasshopper is among dozens of European soccer clubs now with American investment, after previously having owners from China. It has proved resistant to any quick fix in the 23 years since its last league title and 13 years after winning the Swiss Cup.
A vast majority of European clubs are losing money and, LAFC said, “the financial reality remains that (Grasshoppers’) operating costs continue to exceed its current revenue and the club is dependent on ongoing external support to compete in professional football.”
The club shares the publicly owned Letzigrund stadium – also a ground-breaking venue – with city rivals Zurich.
“We understand the frustration and we share it,” LAFC said Tuesday, insisting that “we have invested significantly” and again offering to meet with fan groups.
“Without continued investment from the ownership, (the club) will not exist as a professional football organisation. But should that be the genuine wish of the supporters, we are also willing to enter into discussions on that basis.”
With four rounds left in the league, Grasshopper are set for another 11th place finish and another relegation playoff to stay in the top flight. The two-legged play-off is against the runner-up in the second tier.
Report from the Associated Press.
