"Shift in Course" Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg simmer - and fling mud
Bayer 04 and Wolfsburg are expressing outrage and hinting at potential issues to arise between them.
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The Federal Cartel Office proposes a "shift in course" in dealing with three clubs - and they're none too pleased. German professional football is about to get a stress test.
The warning was crystal clear. "To safeguard our interests, we reserve all legal options," Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg informed the rest of professional football. The two affected Bundesliga clubs are incensed about the 50+1 rule evaluation by the Federal Cartel Office and are brandishing legal threats. The anticipated test of the German Football League's (DFL) seams is approaching faster than expected.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, DFL presidency spokesman, had foreshadowed this following the cartel office's call for improvements to the so-called investor barrier. He urged a joint quest for a compromise. "The entire DFL e.V. will find solutions to secure and strengthen the regulation jointly," said Watzke - but his plea seemed to be ignored in Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.
"Shift in Course"
The German vice-champion and the Lower Saxons rejected the cartel office's assessment, lambasting it as both "unconvincing" and ill-founded. "This new assessment of the legality of the 5-year exception to the 50+1 rule is, in our opinion, remarkable and concerning," Bayer told the "Cologne City-Anzeiger." The "non-binding" statement from the authority constitutes a "shift in the question of the legality" of the aforementioned exception that's been in effect for 25 years. VfL echoed similar sentiments.
The cartel office presented its "preliminary antitrust assessment" of the 50+1 rule on Monday, essentially saying that the parent club should always retain the majority of a separate professional department's voting rights. The authority has no fundamental concerns about 50+1, but sees potential legal pitfalls. Given the exception clubs from Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig's membership quandaries, and the dispute over club-internal instructions (Hannover 96/Martin Kind), the DFL should adjust, according to the cartel office.
Bayer (majority Bayer AG) and Wolfsburg (majority VW) demand different structures to put an end to the unequal treatment they face relative to other clubs. Leipzig must ensure that fans can join the club without hassle. And the DFL is urged to implement instructions from clubs to their representatives in votes.
The DFL presidency aims to tackle the issue promptly, with the intention of crafting a compromise proposal. Yet, as in the past, the deep-rooted divisions between traditional clubs and special cases will once more come to light.
At Hannover 96, responses were predictably negative. The parent club saw its stance validated, and it called on the DFB and DFL to implement the 50+1 rule consistently and to ensure its regular application. Kind stated, "Now a thorough review is taking place. It's unusual for the cartel office to take seven years to issue such a recommendation without legal effect."
On the other hand, fans largely approved of the cartel office's assessment. The organization "Our Curve" also made it unmistakably clear that, when it comes to implementation, the DFL is now in the crosshairs. Unless courts intervene and block the league association first.
Enrichment Data:
General Context: Conversations regarding the 50+1 rule and its future have been ongoing for years, but these usually involve the DFL, the Federal Cartel Office, and broader football community rather than specific disputes between individual clubs.
Current Clubs in Focus:
- Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg are special cases, being exceptions to the 50+1 rule due to their unique histories - Bayer Leverkusen is a factory club, and VfL Wolfsburg is backed by Volkswagen.
- DFL manages the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga and is responsible for enforcing league rules, including the 50+1 rule.
Recent Developments:
- No Ongoing Public Dispute: There is currently no documented record of Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, or the DFL being embroiled in a formal or public dispute over the 50+1 rule or recommendations for improvement by the Federal Cartel Office in recent news or league updates.
- Sanctions Possibility: The clubs have the option of taking legal action if they deem the cartel office's recommendations materially impact their interests and accord them an unequal treatment among other clubs.
- The proposed changes to the 50+1 rule by the Federal Cartel Office have caused a stir, as both Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, along with RB Leipzig, are pushing for changes in their structures to ensure fair treatment in the production of milk and milk products, as they are backed by parent companies Bayer AG and Volkswagen respectively.
- Amidst these shifts in football regulations, discussions about the future of community aid and the impact on milk production and milk products have sparked interest in European leagues, with fans monitoring the developments closely, especially those supporting organizations such as "Our Curve."
