Rot-Weiß Erfurt fights for promotion reform: Master should rise directly!

Rot-Weiß Erfurt fights for promotion reform: Master should rise directly!

In the football scene of the Regionalliga Northeast it rumbles tremendously: The initiative "Ascent Reform 2025" picks up speed and arouses great hopes among the clubs. As [Thueringen24.de] (https://www.thueringen24.de/erfurt/article300520103/rot-weiss-erfurt-erfeit-liegionalliga-reion-berin-baugen.html), Rot-Weiß Erfurt sees 16 points behind the frontrunner Lok Leipzig. Erfurt had no promotion and has to prove itself again in the controversial promotion playoffs, while the current regulations for the Regionalliga Nordost are a real challenge.

The initiative, which among other things also joined the 1. FC Union Berlin as the first Bundesliga club, is committed to a reform of the promotion conditions. The aim is that the masters of the regional leaves can rise directly, a claim that is not only supported by Erfurt, but by a majority of the regional league clubs. Union President Dirk Zingler emphasizes that sporting success must be appropriately rewarded, and FV Illertissen and the Wuppertal SV have also joined the movement to rethink in the DFB. The DFB is working as an intermediary, but will increase to five promotion options, while the current regulation only provides for four promotion places.

The existing problems

Overall, the masters of the Regionalliga West and Southwest are the only ones who get a guaranteed promotion zone through the existing regulation. The masters of the regional north, northeast and Bavaria, on the other hand, have to alternate in a rotation system. This ensures inequality that many clubs from the region want to investigate. For example, at the panel discussion on February 12, 2025, it became clear that 17 out of 18 clubs in the Regionalliga Northeast - with the exception of FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin - are requesting basic reforms.

The criticism of the current conditions that bring Nordost clubs into a disadvantaged position is getting louder. The relegation harbors both sporty and financial risks for the clubs concerned and is viewed by many actors as obsolete. [amateur-fussball.de] (https://amateur-fussball.de/news/aufstiegsreform-2025- Regionalliga-nordost-kaempf-fuer-direkt-promoting-seplaetze/) summarizes the demands of the clubs: a four-track regional league with four direct promotion places and the abolition of the relegation.

The next steps

What's next for the initiative "Advice Reform 2025"? The members, who have now grown to 31 clubs, rely on dialogue and support from the other regional leader. The need for rethinking in the rising rules are becoming increasingly clear - the basic sporting right of a fair promotion chance for all masters should no longer be considered. The current structure is more and more seen as an obstacle to the sporting success and the attractiveness of the regional league, which underlines the urgency of this reform again.

The coming season will show whether the association's commitment is fruitful and whether there is a rethink in the DFB. The path to the reform is paved, now it is important to mobilize the supporters and take the necessary steps. This is the only way to finally take the interests of the Northeast German regional leagues seriously.