Rot-Weiß Erfurt is fighting for promotion reform: Masters should be promoted directly!

Rot-Weiß Erfurt is fighting for promotion reform: Masters should be promoted directly!

There is a lot of rumblings in the Regionalliga Nordost football scene: the “Promotion Reform 2025” initiative is gaining momentum and is raising great hopes among the clubs. As thueringen24.de reports, Rot-Weiß Erfurt, which was 16 points behind leaders Lok Leipzig last season, sees itself at a disadvantage. Erfurt had no promotion and has to prove itself again in the controversial promotion playoffs, while the current regulations for the Regionalliga Nordost represent a real challenge.

The initiative, which 1. FC Union Berlin was the first Bundesliga club to join, is committed to reforming the promotion conditions. The aim is for the champions of the regional leagues to be promoted directly, a demand that is supported not only by Erfurt but by a majority of the regional league clubs. Union President Dirk Zingler emphasizes that sporting successes must be appropriately rewarded, and FV Illertissen and Wuppertaler SV have also joined the movement to initiate a rethink in the DFB. The DFB acts as an intermediary, but avoids an increase to five promotion opportunities, while the current regulation only provides for four promotion places.

The existing problems

Overall, the champions of the Regionalliga West and Southwest are the only ones who are guaranteed a promotion place under the existing regulation. The champions of the regional leagues North, Northeast and Bavaria, however, have to take turns in a rotation system. This creates an inequality that many clubs in the region want to investigate. For example, during the panel discussion on February 12, 2025, it became clear that 17 of 18 clubs in the Regionalliga Nordost - with the exception of FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin - are calling for fundamental reforms.

Criticism of the current conditions, which put northeast clubs in a disadvantaged position, is becoming increasingly louder. Relegation entails both sporting and financial risks for the clubs affected and is viewed by many players as obsolete. amateur-fussball.de summarizes the clubs' demands: a four-track regional league with four direct promotion places and the abolition of relegation.

The next steps

What’s next for the “Rise Reform 2025” initiative? The members, which have now grown to 31 clubs, rely on dialogue and support from the other regional leagues. The need to rethink the promotion rules is becoming increasingly clear - the fundamental sporting right of a fair chance for promotion for all champions should no longer be in question. The current structure is increasingly seen as an obstacle to the sporting success and attractiveness of the regional league, which further underlines the urgency of this reform.

The coming season will show whether the clubs' commitment is fruitful and whether there is a rethink in the DFB. The path to reform has been paved, now it is important to mobilize supporters and take the necessary steps. This is the only way the concerns of the northeast German regional league teams can finally be taken seriously.