{"id":3341,"date":"2023-11-30T20:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.borussiadortmund.co.uk\/?p=3341"},"modified":"2023-11-30T20:00:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:00:29","slug":"german-footballs-unique-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.borussiadortmund.co.uk\/columnist\/german-footballs-unique-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"German football&#8217;s unique rule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Affordable beer. Affordable food. Affordable tickets.<\/p>\n<p>Fans matter in German football more than they do anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>But why is it so vastly different to England, for example?<\/p>\n<p>While in the Premier League, owners invest from the USA, Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE, in Germany, football belongs to the fans &#8211; literally.<\/p>\n<p>Every Bundesliga club is owned by its supporters.<\/p>\n<p>In 1998, the German Football Association (DFB<i> &#8211; Deutscher Fu\u00dfball-Bund<\/i>) introduced the \u201850+1\u2019 rule.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What is the 50+1 rule and could it work in the Premier League?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ef_YheaNVdk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Today the rule stands as a major talking point when discussing German football, and as an overwhelmingly positive concept that many fans across the globe wish to be implemented in their own countries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201850+1\u2019 ensures that at least half (50%) plus one share of a club is owned by members\u2019 associations.<\/p>\n<p>The rule prevents any private investment and keeps Bundesliga clubs financially secure.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Leipzig\">Exceptions<\/h2>\n<p>However, some clubs don\u2019t quite meet the criteria.<\/p>\n<p>The rule grants investors who have had an interest in any club for over 20 years exemption from the rule.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, Bayer Leverkusen, owned by German pharmaceutical company Bayer since 1904, and VFL Wolfsburg, owned by automobile company Volkswagen since 1945, are exempt to the rule.<\/p>\n<p>Not all fans agree with this, however.<\/p>\n<p>Such is the case for Hoffenheim, a village club owned by former player Dietmar Hopp &#8211; co-founder of software company SAP. He has been investing in \u20181899\u2019 since 1990.<\/p>\n<p>Commonly referred to as \u2018Red Bull Leipzig\u2019, RB Leipzig have their own interesting case.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cFootball is dying in Leipzig\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In protest against RB Leipzig\u2019s ownership model, Union Berlin fans staged a \u2018funeral march\u2019 on the way to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RBLFCU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RBLFCU<\/a> earlier today.<\/p>\n<p>DW\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MaxMerrill_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MaxMerrill_<\/a> was on the scene. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/E1eUDhkL4t\">pic.twitter.com\/E1eUDhkL4t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; DW Sports (@dw_sports) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dw_sports\/status\/1218662074068410369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 18, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Founded in 2009 as \u2018RasenBallsport Leipzig\u2019 (RasenBallsport has no literal meaning), energy drink company Red Bull purchased the playing rights of fifth tier side SSV Markranst\u00e4dt, before rebranding as RB Leipzig.<\/p>\n<p>The club has very few members, with a higher annual membership fee than other clubs.<\/p>\n<p>Most of their members are employed by who? Red Bull.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"champions league\">German football: declining?<\/h2>\n<p>While Leipzig are hitting their projected trajectory amidst a rapid rise, German football as a whole is stagnating.<\/p>\n<p>There has been just one Bundesliga champion in the past 11 seasons: Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in Europe, no German side has reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the past three seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Before that, only Bayern (five times) and Leipzig (once) reached that stage (in those 11 seasons).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BAYERN MUNICH ARE BUNDESLIGA CHAMPIONS \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n<p>11 LEAGUE TITLES IN 11 YEARS \ud83d\ude31 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OqkCh7DyLW\">pic.twitter.com\/OqkCh7DyLW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNFC\/status\/1662480369227124737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 27, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Bavarian giants met Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 final. But since then, as BVB yearn to return to their glory days, Bayern have only strengthened their grasp on the Bundesliga.<\/p>\n<p>In that time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.borussiadortmund.co.uk\/features\/how-many-bundesliga-titles-have-borussia-dortmund-won\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dortmund have finished as runners-up to their \u2018Klassiker\u2019 rivals seven times.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>So is German football truly healthy or is it significantly declining? And is this the fault of the \u201850+1\u2019 rule?<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"bundesliga\">Has 50+1 ran its course?<\/h2>\n<p>The rule prohibits any new private investment.<\/p>\n<p>Football as a sport is becoming ever more commercialised and is only going further in that direction.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot more money to be made in the game nowadays and there\u2019s plenty of people at the top exploiting that.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s why leagues such as the Premier League have seen such outrageously high spending over the years.<\/p>\n<p>That isn\u2019t the case in Germany &#8211; except for Bayern. Some of their shares are owned by Adidas, Audi and Allianz and they have the most members in the country (300k).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/de.statista.com\/statistik\/daten\/studie\/3828\/umfrage\/die-beliebtesten-fussballclubs-weltweit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As of 2023 data, Borussia Dortmund (168k) and Schalke (164k) have the next highest number of members<\/a>, at just over half of Bayern\u2019s total.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Borussia Dortmund Fans Show Spectacular Tifo On Yellow Wall\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EBt6reN40Zk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Bayern aside, German clubs struggle to compete in Europe these days and on the whole, their squads can\u2019t match those of the big clubs in England, Spain and Italy.<\/p>\n<p>Modern footballers can be tempted by the pay packages of other leagues, notably Saudi Arabia, and by leagues more competitive than the Bundesliga.<\/p>\n<p>The Bundesliga doesn\u2019t have the money to compete anymore. Germany won the 2014 World Cup with predominantly domestic-based players but the game has changed now. The money is elsewhere.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"50+1\">\u201850+1 bleibt!&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>But the Bundesliga is strong on its morals. When the emergence of the European Super League controversially rocked the sporting world in 2021, no German clubs were involved.<\/p>\n<p>The Bundesliga boasts the highest average attendances in world football.<\/p>\n<p>Clubs are primarily debt-free. Some of those that may be struggling somewhat financially were heavily affected by having to renovate stadiums for the 2006 World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Fans are the heart and soul of the game. If they don\u2019t like something, they can force a change.<\/p>\n<p>Just a few years ago, when the DFB announced that Bundesliga football would be televised on Monday nights, fans boycotted those first Monday night matches.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/brfootball\/status\/965695070161776641<\/p>\n<p>What was the outcome? \u2018Montagsspiele\u2019 were cancelled by the DFB.<\/p>\n<p>While there\u2019s pieces of evidence to back up a claim suggesting that German football is declining and lagging behind the rest of Europe, there is also evidence to counter that.<\/p>\n<p>Just 18 months ago, Eintracht Frankfurt lifted the UEFA Europa League for the second time.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Union Berlin\u2019s rapid rise from the second tier to the Champions League has proven that clubs don\u2019t need private investment. Merely a sufficient structure and footballing plan are required to achieve results.<\/p>\n<p>In April this year, Bayern Munich fans went to Manchester City\u2019s Etihad Stadium and made their feelings clear about the English champions\u2019 owner Sheikh Mansour.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Glazers, Sheikh Mansour, all autocrats out! Football belongs to the people,\u2019 read a banner in the away end.<\/p>\n<p>Banners are no rarity on the German terraces.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cGlazers, Sheikh Mansour, all autocrats out! Football belongs to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bayern Munich fans displayed this banner during their Champions League clash against Manchester City at the Etihad. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fsAaGJ4buM\">pic.twitter.com\/fsAaGJ4buM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNFC\/status\/1645894498570973187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>When Hannover 96 president Martin Kind tried to change the rule in 2009, fans remained vocal on their thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201850+1 bleibt!\u2019 (50+1 stays!) remains a common banner at grounds across the country.<\/p>\n<p>Football is the people\u2019s sport. German fans know that and have turned their passion into power.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"borussia dortmund\">How do BVB fit into this?<\/h2>\n<p>According to data from June 2023, Borussia Dortmund have 168,163 members.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aktie.bvb.de\/eng\/BVB-Share\/Shareholder-Structure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Over 70% of the club is owned by members<\/a> through shares they can publicly trade.<\/p>\n<p>Puma own over 5%. Evonik own over 8%. Signal Iduna have a share of almost 6%. The remaining 10% is owned by other parties.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundesliga.com\/en\/faq\/what-are-the-rules-and-regulations-of-soccer\/50-1-fifty-plus-one-german-football-soccer-rule-explained-ownership-22832\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The club\u2019s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said in 2016<\/a>: \u201cThe German spectator traditionally has close ties with his club.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if he gets the feeling that he&#8217;s no longer regarded as a fan but instead as a customer, we&#8217;ll have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is rather telling. If a private investor had power over a club with as enormous potential as Dortmund\u2019s, who knows what the Black and Yellows could achieve.<\/p>\n<p>A club with such a strong fanbase, culture and history could reach unprecedented heights.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dortmund QUALIFY For Round Of 16 \ud83d\udcaa | AC Milan 1-3 Dortmund | Champions League Group Stage Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/T6HM1S7D6HY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"germany\">The verdict<\/h2>\n<p>Just last season &#8211; one of the best campaigns in recent years for \u2018die Borussen\u2019 &#8211; BVB were knocked out of the Champions League by a Chelsea side that endured the club\u2019s worst finish for almost 30 seasons.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.com\/chelsea-fc\/transfers\/verein\/631\/plus\/?saison_id=2022&amp;pos=&amp;detailpos=&amp;w_s=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chelsea, under the new ownership of American multi-billionaire Todd Boehly, spent over a billion euros across just three transfer windows.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This just goes to show the disparity in finances across Europe\u2019s biggest leagues.<\/p>\n<p>German football may well be declining but the Bundesliga continues to offer some of the most entertaining football on the continent.<\/p>\n<p>Private investment could propel the German game to new levels but the fans don\u2019t want that.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the fans and the morals they adhere to which make football in Germany so special.<\/p>\n<p>50+1 is a model that may seem outdated in the modern age, but it\u2019s something that many fans have called for elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>Football is for the fans and in Germany, things are how they should be. That\u2019s why \u201850+1 bleibt\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Featured Image: Flickr)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Affordable beer. Affordable food. Affordable tickets. Fans matter in German football more than they do<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":3343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"middle","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1191,1192,153,1155],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Bundesliga&#039;s 50+1 ownership rule<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ownership in the Bundesliga is rather unique. 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