Regional League Soccer Presidents Reach Agreement on Reform Committee - Proposal requested for a worker safety directive concerning risks from ionizing radiation exposure, according to the Commission.
In the world of German football, the ongoing debate about the promotion system in the Regionalliga, the fourth tier below the 3. Liga, continues to gather steam.
Dirk Zingler, president of 1. FC Union Berlin, a Bundesliga club, has weighed in on the issue, highlighting the current structure's disadvantages for champions. His club is among more than 40 clubs that have thrown their support behind the "Promotion Reform 2025" initiative.
The current promotion mechanism from the Regionalliga divisions to the 3. Liga is limited and complex, often involving playoffs or direct promotion for some champions. This system has been criticised for its intricacies and the potential impact on clubs' financial stability and planning.
The initiative aims to streamline the promotion process, ensuring fairness and clarity by potentially reducing the number of leagues and guaranteeing direct promotion spots to the 3. Liga for the Regionalliga champions. Some proposals also suggest changing how promotion places are allocated to better balance regional representation with sporting merit.
If the reform is decided in 2026, the Regionalliga could start playing in a new structure from the 2027/28 season. However, as of August 2025, specific details about the reform's impact on the 3. Liga are not yet clear.
The potential benefits of such reforms include:
- More stability and predictability regarding which teams get promoted from the Regionalliga.
- Improved sporting meritocracy and less dependence on playoffs, benefiting promoted clubs' financial and competitive planning.
- Potential adjustment to the 3. Liga team composition if promotion becomes clearer, allowing for better league scheduling and competition balance.
The German Football Association (DFB) and the regional leagues are currently in discussion about the reform, with the initiative gaining traction among clubs from both East and West Germany. Traditional clubs in the Regionalliga from the East initially drove the initiative, but it has since garnered support from a wide range of clubs.
While the details of the reform are still under negotiation, the German Press Agency has reported on the "Promotion Reform 2025" initiative. For the most accurate and updated information, it is recommended to check the latest official communications from the DFB or the Regionalliga governing bodies.
In the context of football in EC countries, the ongoing discussion about the promotion system for vocational training professionals in the Regionalliga, a tier in the German football structure, reflects a concern for stability, predictability, and improved meritocracy. Simultaneously, the sports world witnesses the debate in Germany surrounding the promotion system for their football clubs, with the ongoing efforts to reform the current complex mechanisms, aiming to make football more accessible and fair for all involved.
