How does football club ownership in Germany work?
The clause states that, in order to obtain a license to compete in the Bundesliga, a club must hold a majority of its own voting rights. The rule is designed to ensure that the club’s members retain overall control, by way of owning 50% of shares, +1 share, protecting clubs from the influence of external investors.
Who owns football clubs in Germany?
Four Bundesliga clubs – VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim – are all effectively owned by companies or investors. The latter two have been the target of frequent attacks by fans, but have, by and large, been accepted by the other clubs.
What is the German football ownership model?
Germany’s independent competition authority has stated that German football’s 50+1 ownership rule does not necessarily infringe competition law. But it says that existing exemptions from the rule are problematic. The 50+1 rule is a unique but controversial aspect of German football.
Can owners own 2 football clubs?
UEFA’s ‘Integrity of the UEFA Club competitions: Independence of clubs’ rule was adopted in 1998 and became effective for the 2000/1 season. This states that no two clubs or more participating in a UEFA club competition may be directly or indirectly controlled by the same entity or managed by the same person.
How does club ownership work?
Some may operate as minority fan-owned clubs, where Supporters’ Trusts work alongside private, presumably richer investors, while still influencing the direction of the club. Others are entirely owned by fans, run by a trust and maintained by a democratic membership.
How do fans own Bayern Munich?
Instead, fans own nearly 82 percent of Bayern (per CNN). This is by design. The Bundesliga requires—with rare exceptions—that clubs adhere to a 50-plus-one principle of ownership, meaning more than 50 percent of each club is controlled by fans (more at The Guardian).
Is Bayern Munich fan owned?
Instead, fans own nearly 82 percent of Bayern (per CNN). This is by design. The Bundesliga requires—with rare exceptions—that clubs adhere to a 50-plus-one principle of ownership, meaning more than 50 percent of each club is controlled by fans (more at The Guardian). Bayern is no exception to either requirement.
Is Dortmund fan owned?
Shares of Borussia Dortmund, a German Bundesliga Club, are traded on the German stock market and are largely held by fans.
Can a player buy a club?
In September 2018, Ronaldo became the first ever former player to buy a club in one of the major European leagues after agreeing to invest €30million to become the major shareholder of La Liga club Real Valladolid.
Can a person own two football clubs in Europe?
Definition of ‘control’: the PL v UEFA disparity 2.2 stipulates that no Individual can have a 10% stake in more than one PL club.
How does fan ownership work in Germany?
In short, it means that clubs – and, by extension, the fans – hold a majority of their own voting rights. Under German Football League [DFL] rules, football clubs will not be allowed to play in the Bundesliga if commercial investors have more than a 49 percent stake.
Should German football allow outside ownership of clubs?
It is, in fact, the only era in German football where outside influences have even partly held a stake in its clubs; until the 50 + 1 rule, they were non-profit organisations, owned entirely by members’ associations. External ownership of all forms was banned.
Why are German football teams not-for-profit?
Historically, German teams were not-for-profit organisations run by members’ associations, and until 1998 private ownership of any kind was prohibited. The 50+1 rule, which was introduced that year, helps explain why debts and wages are under control and why ticket prices remain so low compared to other major leagues in Europe.
What is simple ownership of a football club?
Simple ownership can, for purposes of this dissertation, be defined as follows: ownership of a football club means the entirety of rights that are necessary to influence the management, the administration and the sporting presentation of the club.
Who really owns the Bundesliga clubs?
Four Bundesliga clubs – VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim – are all effectively owned by companies or investors. The latter two have been the target of frequent attacks by fans, but have, by and large, been accepted by the other clubs.