Chairman Watzke has been re-elected in DFL - Chancellor's renewed trust affirmed
In the world of German football, a long-standing rule known as the 50+1 rule has recently come under scrutiny. The rule, which guarantees societal involvement in soccer and is considered essential for the people's sport, has been a topic of discussion among key figures in the industry.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, speaker of the DFL presidium and chairman of the supervisory board of the DFL GmbH, has expressed his support for the rule. He believes that the 50+1 rule is crucial for maintaining the unique character of German football.
However, there has been concern over the inconsistent communication from the Federal Cartel Office regarding the 50+1 rule. This uncertainty has led to a delay in the necessary vote of the clubs on the new regulation at a member meeting, which has been postponed several times.
The cartel office has asked the league association to ensure a legally secure application of the 50+1 rule in the future. They have also indicated that exceptions for VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen, which allow these clubs to have investors taking a majority of the votes in the capital companies, may not be permanent.
Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer Leverkusen, was nominated for the DFL supervisory board, making him a representative of an exception to the 50+1 rule. Carro received all the votes for the supervisory board, as his potential opponents had withdrawn after sessions the previous evening.
Watzke and Carro have both expressed concern over the potential implications of these exceptions on the future of the 50+1 rule. They are not alone in their support for the rule, as Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken in favor of it, considering it a unique aspect of German soccer.
Meanwhile, there is no publicly available information or statement from Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz or any current federal politician specifically addressing the 50+1 rule in the German football Bundesliga.
The international revenue from TV deals for the DFL is stagnating, generating around 218 million euros for the 2025/2026 season, the same as the previous season. This is in contrast to the Premier League, which earns almost ten times as much from international TV deals, while the Spanish La Liga takes in roughly three times as much.
With the deadline for statements from the DFL and the affected clubs at the cartel office extended to mid-October, the future of the 50+1 rule in German football remains uncertain. Watzke has also expressed concern about the international competitiveness of German soccer, particularly the lack of talented players aged 16 to 18.
As Watzke prepares to leave his position as CEO of BVB in the fall and aim for the presidency of the traditional club at the member meeting in November, the future of the 50+1 rule will undoubtedly be a key issue on the agenda.
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