German football's 50+1 rule to remain, but league must adapt

Germany's Federal Cartel Office has concluded a lengthy, eight-year review of the controversial 50+1 rule in professional football, determining that it does not fundamentally violate antitrust laws. However, the authority has urged the German Football League (DFL) to implement specific adjustments to ensure the rule's long-term legal viability.

The 50+1 rule generally prohibits investors from acquiring a majority stake in the corporate entities of football clubs, which typically house the professional teams. While exceptions exist for clubs like Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, and special cases like RB Leipzig and Hannover 96, the cartel office's final report highlights three areas where the rule's consistent application is deemed problematic.

Andreas Mundt, president of the Federal Cartel Office, emphasized that for the 50+1 rule to remain legally sound, it must be applied uniformly. He specifically pointed to RB Leipzig, suggesting the club must open its membership to a broader base to truly reflect the rule's aim of ensuring broad stakeholder participation. Currently, the club has a very small number of voting members.

Regarding the long-standing exceptions for Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, the cartel office indicated that further improvements are needed in the regulations governing these existing arrangements. The DFL, represented by figures like league president Hans-Joachim Watzke, acknowledged the cartel office's decision as a significant step and stated its commitment to finding solutions with all 36 clubs in the Bundesliga and second division.