This includes no future financial support exemptions to the 50+1 rule. Clubs that have already been granted a financial support exemption in the past based on the applicable rules of the DFB or DFL, will be subject to a conditional provision of the status quo. These conditions are aimed at making the financial support exemptions more consistent with the 50+1 basic rule. The next step will be for the Federal Cartel Office to assess the proposal in consultation with the parties involved.
The review goes back to an initiative of the DFL executive committee on 18 July 2018. The committee applied to the Federal Cartel Office for a decision in accordance with § 32c GWB (German Act Against Restraints of Competition) To test possible cartel concerns relating to the 50+1 rule and its execution and interpretation. The starting point was a survey carried out at the DFL general meeting on 22 March 2018: At the time, the clubs approved on a majority basis the proposal for a "process of improvement of the legal certainty plus other considerations regarding changed framework conditions in accordance with maintaining the 50+1 rule."
The Federal Cartel Office presented their initial assessment on 31 May 2021 in a meeting with representatives of the DFL and then in written form to the DFL and the parties involved in the process up to that point. That included: "While the basic rule would probably be accepted as cartel neutral in its own right based on the previously applied sporting-political aims this outcome is no longer feasible relating to financial support exemptions."
This preliminarily assessment was followed by an intensive, at times controversial, but constructive exchange between representatives of the DFL executive committee and the DFL, the so-called financial support clubs and the Federal Cartel Office. From the perspective of the DFL executive committee, the target was and is to protect the 50+1 basic rule, based on the current rules of the DFL e.V. to develop solutions conforming to cartel law and thereby achieving the target of "improvement of legal certainty."
If the proposal submitted by the DFL executive committee is declared binding by the Federal Cartel Office in accordance with the assessment and consultation process as per § 32b GWB and then the appropriate amendment to the rules of the DFL e.V. is approved by a two thirds majority by the DFL general committee, that would overcome the potential concerns of the Federal Cartel Office and thereby achieve the target of the original application by the DFL executive committee to the Federal Cartel Office.
The key points of the proposal of the DFL executive committee in terms of increased legal certainty of the 50+1 rule:
Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04: "Given the majority view in German professional football it was important after months of intensive discussions to achieve a viable solution for all sides. For that reason alone, we have approved the compromise, which is painful for us in parts."
TSG Hoffenheim and Dietmar Hopp announced on 1 March 2023 that Dietmar Hopp will in future no longer make use of the exemption from the 50+1 rule granted on 1 July 2015 and that he would like to return the majority of his voting interests to the club without compensation so that TSG will be able to return to the circle of '50+1 rule clubs'. As long as this restoration is not completed, TSG Hoffenheim is still subject to the aforementioned obligations.
Eintracht Frankfurt have made a perfect start to the season: The 5-0 victory in the first round of the DFB Pokal at Oberliga club FV Engers 07 was followed by two impressive wins in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen (4-1) and TSG Hoffenheim (3-1). This Friday, 12 September (kick-off: 20:30 CEST/live on Sky and WOW), the team from Frankfurt visit the BayArena. Not exactly their favourite venue. After all, the last time Eintracht scored in Leverkusen was over ten years ago. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreFor many young people, football is an important part of their lives, it inspires and offers a sense of identification. Players are role models and the clubs embody social commitment. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the state's Bundesliga football clubs, including Bayer 04, are using this appeal to inform young people about career guidance programmes and to create offers that give them guidance and also support them in making a smooth transition from school education to practical training. After a successful first year, the commitment is now continuing - among other things with joint online and offline communication under the umbrella brand "Heimspiel Zukunft".
Show moreNumerous Bayer 04 players are currently away with their respective national teams and are mainly involved in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Read on for the blog covering the Werkself players on international duty.
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Show moreKasper Hjulmand is the new head coach at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Bayer 04 have signed the Dane, who has a contract to 30 June 2027, as the successor to Erik ten Hag. Hjulmand was most recently coach of the Danish national team. In 2021, he and his team reached the semi-finals of the European Championships, where the Danes narrowly lost to England in extra time. Following the 2-0 defeat against Germany in the Round of 16 at EURO 2024, Hjulmand resigned from his position as Denmark coach after four years. He was head coach at Mainz 05 in the 2014/15 Bundesliga campaign.
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