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Los Angeles FC offered to sell struggling Swiss club Grasshopper on Tuesday after fans protested with expletives during a home match in Zurich.
The record 27-time Swiss champion has been anchored in 11th place in the 12-team league since stellar ownership group LAFC purchased a majority stake in January 2024. LAFC’s owners include entertainment titans Peter Guber and Mark Shapiro, Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra.
Grasshoppers fans rioted this month after a Swiss Cup semi-final defeat at second division Stade Lausanne Ouchy and unfurled a banner at a league match on Saturday, telling the American owners to leave with force.
“Recent protests have demanded that we leave the club,” LAFC said in a statement in English and German published on the Grasshopper website.
“We would like to make it clear that we are open to discussions regarding a partial or full sale (of the club), provided that this guarantees the long-term sustainability of the club.”
Grasshopper is one of dozens of European football clubs now benefiting from American investment, after previously having Chinese owners. He has proven himself resistant to any quick fix in the 23 years since his 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 (Grasshopper’s) operating costs continue to exceed its current revenues, and that the club is dependent on continued outside support to compete in professional football.”
The club shares the Letzigrund public stadium – also a legendary athletics venue – with city rivals Zurich.
“We understand the frustration and we share it,” LAFC said on Tuesday, insisting that “we have invested significantly” and again offered to meet with groups of supporters.
“Without continued investment from the owners, (the club) will not exist as a professional football organization. However, if this is the true wish of the fans, we are also prepared to enter into discussions on this basis.”
With four rounds left in the league, Grasshopper are set for another 11th place finish and another relegation play-off to stay in the top tier. These round-trip qualifiers will be played against the second level finalist.
Associated Press reporting.
