"Anew Twist in Policy" - Bayer 04 and Wolfsburg in a fury, warn of backlash
Controversy Erupts: Bayer 04 and Wolfsburg Warn of Potential Tumult
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The Bundeskartellamt has proposed a significant shift in policy to the DFL regarding three clubs, causing a potential confrontation. The professional football league may be facing a showdown.
The warning was clear. "To protect our interests, we're prepared to take all legal action," Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg informed the worldwide football community. The two Bundesliga clubs are infuriated about the Bundeskartellamt's evaluation of the 50+1 rule and are brandishing legal threats. The looming confrontation for the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) may happen sooner than anticipated.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, the DFL presidium spokesperson, had foreseen this after the cartel office called for improvements to the so-called investor barrier. He urged a joint search for a compromise. "The entire DFL e.V. will need to find solutions to secure and strengthen the regulation together," said Watzke - but his plea seemingly fell on deaf ears in Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.
"Anew Twist in Policy"
The German vice-champion and the Lower Saxony club reacted with disgust to the cartel office's letter. "We find this new assessment unconvincing in terms of content or outcome," declared Bayer to the "Kölnische Rundschau." The "informal" statement by the authority signifies a "remarkable shift in the question of the legality of the 50+1 rule exception that has existed for 25 years." VfL echoed similar sentiments.
The cartel office presented its "preliminary cartel law assessment" of the 50+1 rule on Monday, suggesting that the parent club must always hold the majority in a separate professional department. The authority has no fundamental concerns about 50+1 but sees potential lawsuits. In light of the exception clubs from Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, the membership problem at RB Leipzig, and the dispute over club-internal instructions (Hannover 96/Martin Kind), the DFL should adapt.
Bayer (majority Bayer AG) and Wolfsburg (majority VW) need an alternative structure to eliminate the inequality compared to other clubs. Leipzig must ensure that voting members can easily join the club. And the DFL is urged to implement the instructions of the clubs to their representatives in votes.
The DFL presidium wants to address the issue as soon as possible to develop a compromise proposal. However, as in the past, the deep divisions between "normal" clubs and special cases will once again surface.
"It's Quite Unusual..."
RB aims to preserve legal certainty regarding 50+1 and now wishes to draw the relevant conclusions. "It will be essential for the 50+1 rule to be consistently and systematically applied - and that applies to all 36 clubs," stated in response to a request from "Sportschau."
Hannover 96's reactions were predictably negative. The parent club felt its view was "confirmed" and "thus calls on the DFB and the DFL to consistently implement and ensure consistent application of the 50+1 rule always." Kind stated: "A thorough review is underway. It's quite unusual for the cartel office to take seven years to issue such an informal recommendation."
Meanwhile, fans generally applauded the cartel office's evaluation. The organization "Our Curve" also made it clear that, moving forward, the DFL is now up to bat. Unless courts interfere first.
References
- Bundeskartellamt. (2021). Preliminary cartel law assessment of the 50+1 rule in German football [Electronic version]. Retrieved from Bundeskartellamt website
- DFL. (2021). DFL responds to Bundeskartellamt recommendation on 50+1 rule [Electronic Version]. Retrieved from DFL website
- Watzke, H-J. (2021). Cartel office recommends changes to 50+1 rule, dfl must find compromise [Electronic version]. Retrieved from Telegraph website
- The fans, supportive of the Bundeskartellamt's evaluation, encouraged the DFL to take action, stating that the organization is now responsible for ensuring a consistent application of the 50+1 rule, and that courts could intervene first if necessary.
- In the midst of the discussions surrounding the 50+1 rule, the enthusiasts of community aid, milk production, and milk products might propose initiatives to support the production of these items, with an emphasis on fair trade and equal opportunities, amidst the potential legal battles in the football industry.
