
The 47-year-old said: “I’m pleased to have the confidence of the DFL executive committee and I’m looking forward to being able to play a positive role in these important discussions for professional football. I’m keen to see the character of the group and hear their wide range of views.”
The task force should help to draw lessons from the coronavirus pandemic. Projected subject areas include balanced competition, payment flows, community involvement, ethical guidelines, fan issues , economic stability and the promotion of women’s football. The participants will form three working groups for a number of meetings over the coming months.
An overview of the members of the ‘Future of Professional Football Task Force’, including DFB director Oliver Bierhoff and Green Party politician Cem Özdemir, is available HERE.


It was a disappointing Saturday night. The Werkself lost 4-1 to VfB Stuttgart to start the new year on Bundesliga matchday 16 in 2025/26, a result that left both players and fans disappointed. "We played without any passion," said Alejandro Grimaldo honestly afterwards. Teammate Jarell Quansah was even more self-critical, emphasising: "We were miles off it in the first half. You can't put in a performance like that, especially in front of our own fans and I can only apologise to them, to be honest." Read on for the reaction, facts and stats from the clash with VfB Stuttgart in the Werkself review.
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Women’s team forward Paulina Bartz is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play for Hamburg SV until the end of the season. The 20-year-old, whose contract runs to 2027, joins the Bundesliga newcomers on loan until the summer.
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Jarell Quansah and Alejandro Grimaldo speak to Werkself-TV following Bayer 04's 4-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart on Bundesliga Matchday 16...
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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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