Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro has proclaimed that German soccer should make changes to club ownership rules. Current laws in place, labeled the 50+1 rule, limits foreign investors to how much stake they can own in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">Bundesliga</a> teams. Instead, German soccer opts for a system in which ensures team officials keep control of their clubs. 



This law, of course, has a few exceptions. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayer-leverkusen-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Leverkusen</a> are currently one of only a handful of Bundesliga clubs with outside ownership. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Bayer founded the team way back in 1904.



“The 50+1 rule nowadays does not make sense,” <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/106c17e0-b560-4b6d-974c-1e07a3c922b4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Carro. “We’re competing internationally — we’re not in an isolated world. Imposing something like this via regulation is no longer valid. If 50+1 wasn’t there, owners could put money into other clubs.”



<h2>German fans resistant against allowing outside investment</h2>



Other top leagues around Europe have welcomed foreign investors with open arms. Not only are more outsiders opting to buy teams in the big divisions, but more and more smaller clubs are also being bought up as well. 



In fact, following Florida-based businessman Tom Piatak’s purchase of Carlisle United, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/pro-rel-fueling-american-investment-in-english-soccer-teams-20240208-WST-488318.html">37% of all teams</a> in England’s top four leagues have American ownership.



Nevertheless, a vast majority of German soccer supporters are against opening the Bundesliga to foreign investors. In fact, fans have protested heavily in recent days due to concerns about private investment in the top flight’s marketing revenue. German soccer <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/bundesliga-make-major-rule-change-in-tv-rights-packages-20240131-WST-486596.html">recently revealed</a> that a single buyer could now purchase media rights packages.



As a result, fans protested during separate games involving <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/borussia-dortmund-tv-schedule/">Borussia Dortmund</a> and Hamburg on Friday night. The supporter unrest in Germany continued on Saturday as a game between <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/union-berlin-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Union Berlin</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/wolfsburg-tv-schedule-for-viewers-in-the-us/">Wolfsburg</a> was delayed. Fans attending the game <a href="https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2024/fan-protests-in-germany-continue-as-game-suspended-between-union-berlin-and-vfl-wolfsburg/?expand_article=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threw tennis balls</a> onto the pitch in protest of the upcoming broadcasting change.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="836" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/16045543/imago1036938529h-1200x836-1200x836.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-488930" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div><figcaption>Carro believes that the only way to end Bayern Munich’s stranglehold of the Bundesliga title is to allow significant outside investment</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Leverkusen exec also claims ending 50+1 rule would help end Bayern’s dominance</h2>



Following the protests on Friday, German soccer officials issued a statement on the situation. The organization essentially agreed that fans should certainly voice their opinions, but called on them to not interrupt matches. “Part of what makes the fan culture in German football stadiums special is that fans can express their views on banners and in chants,” read the <a href="https://www.dfl.de/en/news/a-lot-of-opportunities-for-the-clubs-no-disadvantages-for-fans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>.



“What is not in the spirit of football and fair play, however, is when protests act to the detriment of the teams and sporting competition and matches cannot be properly carried out. This affects millions of fans.”



Nevertheless, money is essentially the issue in the German soccer setup. The Bundesliga currently generates around $215 million annually in foreign broadcasting rights. On the other hand, Spain’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> brings in nearly $1 billion and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> generates over $2 billion in these media rights deals.



Carro also claims that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a>‘s dominance is also hurting the league as well. The German giants have collected the last 11 top flight titles. Foreign fans have seemingly lowered interest in the Bundesliga due to the club’s dominance. Leverkusen, however, currently leads the league at the moment.



In turn, the Leverkusen exec claimed that allowing more foreign investors would help other Bundesliga teams. “If you want to have more clubs trying to be at the level of Bayern Munich, getting rid of 50+1 would have much more impact,” proclaimed Carro.



Photo credits: IMAGO / Sven Simon : IMAGO / MIS

Bayer Leverkusen boss wants Bundesliga to smash 50+1 rule

Bayer Leverkusen boss Fernando Carro believes that German soccer should make changes to club ownership rules

Hoffenheim is no longer one of three Bundesliga teams exempt from the ‘50+1’ ownership regulations. The club’s fans are now back in the majority.



Normally, no entity in German professional soccer may hold more than half of a club. However, because of their lengthy histories with their respective owners, Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen, and Wolfsburg had exceptions to this rule.



However, Hopp chose to step down as Hoffenheim owner after an investigation by the authorities and continual harassment from rival supporters. The 83-year-old is a millionaire who established the software company SAP.



Thanks to him, the team climbed from the fifth division to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">Bundesliga</a>, where they have remained since 2008. Under Julian Nagelsmann, who is currently the coach of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/germany-national-team-tv-schedule/">Germany</a>, they even managed to achieve the remarkable feat of qualifying for the 2018 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a>.



According to a <a href="https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2023/11/tsg-hoffenheim-once-again-a-50-1-regulation-club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">club statement</a> released on Wednesday, the German Football League (DFL) and the tax office have both recognized the club’s revised shareholder agreement.



Great fan culture, cheap tickets, top-notch performance, and high average attendance are just a few of the reasons why German soccer is so popular. A key element in this is the so-called ’50+1′ ownership rule.



<h2>What is ’50+1′ rule?</h2>



According to a <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="noreferrer noopener">long-standing regulation in the Bundesliga</a>, the team association must own one share in addition to fifty percent of a club. The requirement that clubs’ members possess fifty percent plus one additional vote—i.e., a majority—is reflected in the rule’s name.



In a nutshell, it implies that local clubs, and by implication, their supporters, rather than an outside force or investor, have the last say in club management.



More and more money is flowing into European soccer, however, and that is a challenging tradition. One goal of the’ 50+1’ rule is to stop what is happening in English soccer, where wealthy Saudis and Americans finance teams with little to no input from the public.



When foreign investors have the most say, German soccer teams cannot participate in the Bundesliga or the German second-tier league according to DFL regulations.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/16052419/Hoffenheim-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-474391" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"><figcaption>Hoffenheim has found success this season, as it currently sits sixth in the Bundesliga.</figcaption></figure>



This rules out the possibility of corporate or commercial investors acquiring teams and putting profit before fan preferences. The decision defends the democratic traditions of German clubs while also shielding them against careless owners.



Until 1998, private ownership was forbidden in Germany, and teams were instead administered by members’ groups as non-profit organizations. That year saw the introduction of the ‘50+1’ rule. This rule explains why the Bundesliga controls levels of debts and salaries. Also, this rule contributes to the cheap ticket pricing as compared to other major European leagues.



<h2>Which Bundesliga clubs are currently exempt from ’50+1′ rule?&nbsp;</h2>



The manner in which clubs adjusted to these developments varied. The forms members took ownership of the groups also varied. A large number of the Bundesliga clubs are really subsidiaries of larger clubs that manage the first team. This makes them legally similar to limited or joint-stock companies.



After looking over the regulation, the German Cartel Office requested revisions from the DFL. Leverkusen and Wolfsburg earn special treatment in the future. No other teams will be able to apply for this.



The regulation has long been a source of frustration for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a>. They have argued that it prevents them from competing on par with clubs like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/the-history-of-manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-gary-james-interview-video-20130406-CMS-52551.html">Manchester City</a>, controlled by Abu Dhabi.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Change in ownership structure makes Hoffenheim 50-plus-1 club

After regaining control of the club's voting rights, Hoffenheim is back in the group of Bundesliga clubs to adhere to the '50+1' rule.

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Change in ownership structure makes Hoffenheim 50-plus-1 club