Following the financial crisis at Kirch Gruppe (see Kirch Sell Off Begins), the German government is to step in in order to protect the German football league from insolvency. In a situation eerily similar to the collapse of ITV Digital and the repercussions for the English league, KirchMedia is unable to honour payments due to German first and second division clubs. It is expected that Kirch will enter into bankruptcy proceedings today unless an acceptable last minute take over offer is brokered by minority shareholders, namely Rupert Murdoch and Sylvio Berlusconi