Bundeskartellamt demands improvements for 50+1 rule in football!

Bundeskartellamt demands improvements for 50+1 rule in football!

Main-Spessart, Deutschland - this day, June 16, 2025, has the Bundeskartellamt to improve the renovations of the controversial 50+1 rule requested. This rule states that investors cannot adopt a majority of votes on the corporations of football clubs, with the exceptions for VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. In principle, however, there are no major concerns about the regulation that serves to protect the club identity and the membership participation.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, emphasizes the importance of uniform competitive conditions. This applies particularly to the clubs of the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga, all of whom need a non -discriminatory environment. The DFL is now required to take concrete measures to ensure that the 50+1 rule is used legally. An essential point is the open access to membership and the participation of the fans across all clubs.

recommendations and risks

The Federal Cartel Office has drawn up various recommendations in its preliminary antitrust assessment, which the DFL should help to successfully apply the 50+1 rule. This includes ensuring that this rule is always taken into account even with internal DFL. In particular, the licensing practice of the DFL must be revised in order to ensure all clubs the opportunity to membership for fans.

A sensitive topic remains the vote on investor investments that took place in December 2023. The implementation of the 50+1 rule was not consistently pursued. There were indications of the instructions from the Hannover 96 Mother Association, which influenced the voting process, but the DFL did not take any measures for checking in this regard. This stirs up the concerns about a lack of transparency in the process.

future implementation

The DFL and the clubs concerned now have the opportunity to comment on the recommendations of the Federal Cartel Office. After the finalization and taking into account the statements, the cartel office intends to stop the procedure. Here a longer transition period for the implementation of the required improvements in the self -administration bodies of the DFL could be justified to ensure a sustainable improvement.

In summary, it can be said that the 50+1 rule, even if it is criticized, is not considered a restriction of competition. The agreement enables broad sections of the population to enjoy co -determination opportunities and continues to compete on the field as a worth protecting German football. It remains to be hoped that the DFL will have a good knack for the upcoming adjustments and that the voice of the fans will be more important in the future.

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