Bundesliga sets another earnings record

Associated Press
Augsburg's Ji Dong-won of South Korea scores with his head during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Augsburg in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The Bundesliga reports its ninth straight earnings record in the past season, growing by 4.4 percent over the 2011-12 season.

Its annual report published Tuesday says the operative profit was at an all-time high of €383.5 million ($523.44 million).

Earnings reached €2.17 billion ($2.96 billion) and 17 of the 18 top-flight clubs were in the black before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).

Two Bundesliga clubs, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, reached the Champions League final for the first time last season.

Christian Seifert, Chief Executive Officer of the German Football League, says the Bundesliga has succeeded in combining "top-level" performance with "economic rationality."