September 3 – German Chancellor Frederich Merz has backed the 50+1 club ownership rule that remains a cornerstone of the country’s football industry, but is increasingly under pressure.
On the eve of the DFL’s general assembly in Berlin, Merz spoke out in favour of the 50+1 rule to representatives of the league association and the clubs. He said: “I remain a proponent of this rule,” adding that “the strong anchoring of the clubs is and remains important.”
Merz, as reported by Kicker, said: “Even if German clubs impose certain limitations on themselves with this rule, especially with regard to capital resources and, of course, in competition with many other European clubs, I believe that football should remain a club sport in which the clubs play a strong role.”
The 50+1 rule in German professional football prevents external investors from taking full control of clubs because members retain the voting majority. It does not, however, mean that shares can’t be sold. The rule has often been hailed as a safeguard to retain the character of German football and ensure Premier League scenarios of all-powerful owners don’t materialise.
But the rule remains under scrutiny, in particular over its compatibility with antitrust law and the exceptions granted to clubs like Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.
Early on Wednesday, at the DFL general assembly, Hans-Joachim Watzke, DFL supervisory board chair and considered the most powerful football official in Germany, said: “We should do everything we can to ensure that 50+1 is preserved. To me, that’s the fundamental element of our national sport. We should all fight for it.”
Watzke previously served as CEO of Borussia Dortmund, a club where all shares have been sold to private individuals. The football official also has a strong connection to Merz, who served on the supervisory board of Borussia Dortmund until 2014.
Merz cautioned against the politicisation of the game, saying: “The fan scene is not getting any simpler, but this scene is also an expression of the sociopolitical – even party-political – development we are seeing in Germany.”
Merz added that the focus must remain “on the sport, on the game, on the teams, and isn’t overloaded with topics that have no place in football stadiums.”
No changes to the rule are expected to be proposed at the general assembly.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1756900214labto1756900214ofdlr1756900214owedi1756900214sni@i1756900214tnuk.1756900214ardni1756900214mas1756900214
