Hoffenheim is no longer one of the three Bundesliga leagues exempt from the “50:1” ownership rule. The club’s supporters are once again in the majority.
Normally, no German football entity can own more than a part of a club. However, due to their long history with their respective owners, Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg have noted exceptions to this rule.
However, Hopp decided to step down as owner of Hoffenheim after a government investigation and continued harassment from rival fans. The 83-year-old is a millionaire who founded the software company SAP.
Thanks to him, the team moved from the fifth division to the Bundesliga, where it has been since 2008. Under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann, Germany’s recent head coach, they even achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for the 2018 UEFA Champions League. .
According to a statement from the club on Wednesday, the German Football League (DFL) and the tax authority acknowledged the club’s revised shareholders’ agreement.
A wonderful fan culture, reasonably priced tickets, top-notch performances and an excellent average attendance are just some of the reasons why German football is so popular. A key detail in this regard is the so-called “50:1” property rule.
According to the old Bundesliga rules, the team must own a percentage of more than fifty percent of a club. The requirement that club members have to possess fifty percent plus one additional vote, i. e. , a majority, is reflected in the rule’s call.
Put simply, it means that the local clubs, and consequently their supporters, rather than an outside force or investor, have the final say in the management of the club.
More and more money is flowing into European soccer, however, and that is a challenging tradition. One goal of the’ 50+1’ rule is to stop what is happening in English soccer, where wealthy Saudis and Americans finance teams with little to no input from the public.
When foreign investors have maximum participation, German football teams participate in the Bundesliga or the second German departmental league, according to DFL rules.
This excludes the possibility of corporate or advertising investors winning teams and benefiting from fan preferences. The resolution upholds the democratic traditions of German clubs and at the same time protects them from reckless owners.
Until 1998, private ownership was forbidden in Germany, and teams were instead administered by members’ groups as non-profit organizations. That year saw the introduction of the ‘50+1’ rule. This rule explains why the Bundesliga controls levels of debts and salaries. Also, this rule contributes to the cheap ticket pricing as compared to other major European leagues.
The manner in which clubs adjusted to these developments varied. The forms members took ownership of the groups also varied. A large number of the Bundesliga clubs are really subsidiaries of larger clubs that manage the first team. This makes them legally similar to limited or joint-stock companies.
After reviewing the regulations, the German Cartel Office requested revisions from the DFL. Leverkusen and Wolfsburg will get a special remedy in the future. No other team will be able to apply for it.
This regulation has long been a source of frustration for Bayern Munich. They have argued that this prevents them from competing with clubs such as Abu Dhabi-controlled Manchester City.
PHOTOS: IMAGO.