Club revolution threatens: DFL must change 50+1 rule for Bayer and Wolfsburg!

Club revolution threatens: DFL must change 50+1 rule for Bayer and Wolfsburg!

Today, June 17, 2025, the debate about the 50+1 rule in German football is causing a stir. The Federal Cartel Office has just published a preliminary assessment that could have profound consequences for Bundesliga clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig. In a clear statement, the 50+1 rule is classified as permissible under antitrust law, but the demands of the Cartel Office are not trivial. Under pressure from criticism and the current competitive situation, the Cartel Office is calling for comprehensive improvements.

Protection of club culture

The 50+1 rule is intended to ensure the cultural influence of the clubs and the participation of members in football. The Federal Cartel Office sees this as a legitimate reason to deviate from antitrust prohibitions. Nevertheless, there are clear recommendations for adaptation. The authorities are calling for the abolition of the exceptions for Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg. These two clubs have received support from their sponsors for over two decades, which fundamentally calls into question the fairness of the competition. How ran.de reported that these clubs face legal action if they do not respond to the recommendations.

Competitive conditions for everyone

The core of the Cartel Office's demands is to ensure uniform competitive conditions for all clubs in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga. Clubs like RB Leipzig, which in the past operated with only 23 people entitled to vote, face strict monitoring of the voting processes. It seems that the DFL (German Football League) will have to implement the requested improvements in the near future in order to prevent legal disputes. This could result in greater pressure on the regulations in the long term.

The Cartel Office has also criticized that the DFL's licensing practices are not sufficient. In particular, there is criticism that not all member clubs offer fans the opportunity to participate in membership. In a vote on investor participation in December 2023, the rule was not consistently implemented, and the DFL did not review an instruction that came from Hannover 96.

Critical voices from the league

Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg have already announced that they want to legally examine the Cartel Office's recommendations. While Bayer Leverkusen's representatives remain rather skeptical, the management of RB Leipzig is cautious and calls for clear, uniform rules. So the topic is hotly debated; Martin Kind from Hannover 96 also criticizes the long duration of the Cartel Office's examination and creates additional explosiveness.

A look at the future

The likelihood that the 50+1 rule will be completely overturned is low as it is considered compatible with EU law. But the DFL must take clear measures promptly to reduce the pressure. The assessment also included current ECJ rulings that could influence the legal environment. It remains to be seen how the recommendations will affect the clubs, their development opportunities and competition in the top German league.

In summary, although the 50+1 rule still exists, it is subject to intensive changes. The coming months will show how the DFL reacts to the pressure and whether the clubs manage to assert their interests in this complex discussion.