Hallescher FC severs nearly all sporting ties with RB Leipzig
A Move Unprecedented in German Professional Football: Halle's Radical Rejection of RB Leipzig
In a decision with few parallels in German professional football, the Hallescher FC (HFC) membership assembly has taken a sweeping stand against RB Leipzig—one driven by deep-seated opposition to the club. The move sends an unmistakable signal.
As reported by the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, 388 members voted in favor of a motion that will sever nearly all sporting ties with the Bundesliga side—at least outside of mandatory competitive fixtures. The resolution means no future friendly matches, test games, or tournaments against RB Leipzig, with the ban extending even to youth teams.
A Complete Break at Every Level
The decision goes further still. Beyond matches, it prohibits any use of RB Leipzig's training facilities—a notable shift, given that HFC itself relied on the Bundesliga club's infrastructure as recently as January due to harsh weather, as did other eastern German teams like Rot-Weiß Erfurt, 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig, and BSG Chemie Leipzig.
The motion's justification frames the goal as a "clear and consistent distancing" from Red Bull's football structures, positioning the fourth-division club firmly against a model long criticized by traditional fans.
A First for German Football
While RB Leipzig has faced resistance from historic clubs—particularly in the east—HFC's total sporting boycott marks a new extreme. No comparable measures have been seen before in German football.
Even collaborations and joint youth tournaments are now off the table. The policy applies to all HFC teams, regardless of age or gender.
One Loophole Remains
There is, however, one exception: Transfers of players or staff from RB Leipzig's system will still be permitted. Several former Leipzig figures—including Fabrice Hartmann, Niclas Stierlin, and Joscha Wosz—already play for HFC, while sporting director Daniel Meyer also has RB ties.
