Bundeskartellamt calls on DFL for changes in 50+1 rule!

Bundeskartellamt calls on DFL for changes in 50+1 rule!

Leipzig, Deutschland - On June 16, 2025, the Federal Cartel Office presented its results on the 50+1 rule in German football. The authority announced that there are no fundamental concerns about this rule, but application adjustments are necessary. The 50+1 rule is responsible for the fact that external investors have no influence on the majority of the 36 associations of the first and second Bundesliga. Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, emphasized that all clubs have to find homogeneous competitive conditions and demanded that the traditional exceptions for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg are abolished. These clubs currently have no mother clubs that have the dominant influence on the professional football departments, and Mundt sees a need for action here. Sportschau reports.

What is the situation of the clubs? Both VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen do not agree to the Federal Cartel Office. They reserve legal steps to clarify their current situation. For these clubs, an exemption applies to long -term grants. In contrast, critics such as the fan alliance "Fanscente of Germany" have clear demands for a consistent application of the 50+1 rule and express frustration about the failure of the German Football League (DFL) to find a uniform solution for this. Transfer market reports.

The role of the DFL

The DFL now has the task of ensuring that all Bundesliga and second division clubs have open access to membership and that the 50+1 rule is observed in the event of their own votes. The authority calls on the DFL to act specifically in order to be able to guarantee legal use of the rule. According to a statement by affected associations and investors, the Federal Cartel Office plans to finalize the recommendations and to complete the procedure. Andreas Mundt also emphasized the need for fans to have a say in all clubs or in the decision-making processes. ZDF reported.

Another point addressed by Mundt concern the open questions about the new membership of fans at RB Leipzig. Here it is demanded that this association also fulfills prerequisites that guarantee the same fair access as it should be the case with the other clubs. The DFL, which already discussed the first approaches to change the 50+1 rule in 2023, must now deal intensively with the new situation.

The discussion about the 50+1 rule clearly shows that the topic will have far-reaching effects on the future structure of German football. Fans and clubs watch the developments intently, because the continued existence of this rule could be crucial for how the clubs act in the future and whether the influence of investors in German football is growing or not.