“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.”
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
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The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
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Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
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