Bundeskartellamt urges DFL to change: 50+1 rule under criticism!

Bundeskartellamt urges DFL to change: 50+1 rule under criticism!

Wolfsburg, Deutschland - The Federal Cartel Office has asked the German Football League (DFL) to improve the controversial 50+1 rule. This rule is intended to ensure that external investors at the 36 clubs of the first and second Bundesliga cannot adopt a majority about the corporations. The clubs Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig and Hannover 96 are particularly affected. These currently receive special regulations, which, however, are no longer durable on the basis of new legal framework conditions, such as Radio Köln reported.

The procedure has been running over the 50+1 rule for seven years, now an end seems in sight. The DFL must make fundamental changes in the existing protection rules in order to ensure a legally secure implementation of the rule. The exceptions for Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, which were promoted by Volkswagen and Bayer for a long time, could soon be eliminated, since the current case law of the European Court of Justice will no longer allow permanent existing protection. This was also discussed by Eurosport

uniform competitive conditions required

Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, expressed the urgent desire for uniform competitive conditions. One key point is the open membership for all clubs that should ensure a co -determination of the fans. It is currently evident that RB Leipzig in particular only has 23 voting members, while membership is controlled by the association, which is critically assessed in public. There are also internal tensions at Hannover 96, since managing director Martin Kind and the fan base have to argue about power in the club. This conflict and the problem of membership [Die Zeit] (https://www.zeit.de/sport/2025-06/bundeskartellamt-deutsch-fussball-liga competition conditions)

The DFL Presidium plans to thoroughly examine the requested changes and to work on a solution that is supported by all 36 professional clubs. It is emphasized that it is not a reproach against the DFL - rather, the league and their clubs keep the saying in such a rule adjustments. Nevertheless, the DFL must ensure that the 50+1 rule is applied without discrimination and the club members have the opportunity to actually have a say.

The future of clubs in focus

Another aspect is that the DFL did not consistently implement the 50+1 rule in voting on investor participations in media proceeds, which leads to questions in particular at Hannover 96. Mundt is convinced that the first compromise suggestions will be developed in the near future to find a common basis. The DFL already presented its mandatory commitments to strengthen the 50+1 rule in March 2023.

The next time will be crucial, not only for the clubs concerned, but for all German football. The DFL is required to set the course correctly so that future competitive conditions are fair and transparent.