“As a child of the Bundesliga, I find it incredible that our football is now in serious existential difficulty,” said Rudi Völler, sporting managing director at Bayer 04. “I started playing in the second division, had a great time back then and I know and value both leagues – they are precious and we have to come together to protect them. With all the rivalry between the clubs, it’s important now for us to help each other.”
Fernando Carro, chairman of the board: “The survival of several clubs is under threat. We feel compelled to make a contribution to the club community. At the end of the day, everybody involved shares an interest in maintaining the stability of the league structures. Only then can the Bundesliga and second division be in a position to guarantee the charisma and attraction in the future that we’ve all benefited from in the past.”
Bayer 04 and the other three participants in the current Champions League campaign have initially decided not to take up their share of as yet undistributed national DFL media income for the coming season. This sum, that currently amounts to 12.5 million euros for the current distribution fund, is topped up by the four clubs in the sum of 7.5 million euros from their own funds. The criteria for distributing the 20 million euros will be set by the DFL management committee.
“This initiative underlines the fact that solidarity in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 is not lip service. The DFL management committee is very grateful to the four Champions League participants on behalf of the community of all clubs,” explained Christian Seifert, spokesperson for the DFL management committee.
Rudi Völler added: “We all bear responsibility for the Bundesliga to continue as before. Not just from self-interest as professional football in Germany is not just a business and also not just an important factor as an employer and tax payer in this country. Football brings people together and is particularly valuable in difficult times as social support.”
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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