Championship Retained by Liga's HB Ludwigsburg in Germany
In a dramatic turn of events, Handball club HB Ludwigsburg finds itself in a precarious position, with the club's participation in the upcoming Handball Bundesliga Women (HBF) season hanging in the balance.
The club, which clinched the German championship last season, has already been excluded from the Supercup on August 23 and the Champions League. Despite retaining their title, the financial situation and potential implications for the upcoming season are significant, as the team is without secured financing and many players are no longer bound by their contracts.
The league has requested the license holder, HB Ludwigsburg, to submit a statement and relevant documents regarding the financial gap in the six-figure range. The league is reviewing the economic performance capabilities declared by the license holder during the licensing procedure again, but a decision about HB Ludwigsburg's participation in the upcoming season is yet to be made.
The business manager of the Thuringian HC, Maik Schenk, referred to the championship as "stinking and fraudulent." Some league rivals have spoken of fraud and heavily criticized the team. However, the Handball Bundesliga Women (HBF) has stated that the retrocactive revocation of HB Ludwigsburg's German championship title is not a topic.
Despite the financial collapse and criticism, HB Ludwigsburg is still trying to form a skeleton team to enable a start in the Bundesliga next season. If the club fails to provide the requested statement and documents, the exact steps that could follow are not detailed. It remains uncertain whether HB Ludwigsburg will start in the league next season.
The league has not provided a concrete answer on how the double winner could obtain the license for the upcoming season despite the financial gap. The league wants to wait for further developments on site before making a decision. If HB Ludwigsburg drops out of the Bundesliga, the 2025/26 season will be played with eleven teams, making Ludwigsburg the first relegated team.
HB Ludwigsburg obtained a license for the 2022-2023 Bundesliga season despite financial issues by fulfilling the licensing requirements set by the German Football League (DFL). The standard process involves clubs demonstrating sufficient liquidity, no outstanding debts to players or other clubs, and adequate organizational structures. Clubs can also present financial recovery plans or guarantees if experiencing difficulties. The DFL’s licensing system is strict, so gaining a license despite financial issues indicates HB Ludwigsburg successfully addressed these requirements to convince the league authorities of their viability for the 2022-2023 season.
The Handball Bundesliga Women (HBF) communicated this response to Deutsche Presse-Agentur in response to an inquiry. As of Monday, the financing for HB Ludwigsburg's upcoming Bundesliga season is not secured.
- In light of the financial crisis and lack of secured financing for the upcoming season, HB Ludwigsburg faces the possibility of missing out on not only the Champions League but also European leagues, such as the UEFA Women's Champions League.
- Amidst the uncertainty surrounding HB Ludwigsburg's participation in the upcoming Handball Bundesliga Women (HBF) season, the club is grappling with the consequences of exclusion from major tournaments, including the Champions League and other European leagues.
