What Is the 50+1 Bundesliga Rule? What Are the Findings of the Federal Cartel Office?

The 50+1 rule is a cornerstone of German football, designed to preserve fan control and prevent external investors from dominating clubs. Recently, the Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) issued important findings that could reshape the future of this rule and German football ownership.

What Is the 50+1 Rule?

An unofficial phrase, the 50+1 rule refers to a clause in Deutsche Fußball-Liga (DFL) rules asking club members to have at least 50 percent plus one additional vote of voting rights in professional football teams. The 50+1 rule Bundesliga guarantees that fans and their teams have total control over how they are run, therefore blocking outside investors from gaining majority control.

Football teams may transform their professional squads into independent commercial entities under this method; however, the parent club must preserve at least 50% plus one voting rights share. To prevent clubs from becoming "the playthings of billionaires" and to uphold the democratic traditions that have set German football apart, the law was intended to.

Among the favorable effects for German football resulting from the regulation are the highest average attendances in world football, rather low ticket prices, and strong fan participation. Other nations, including the United Kingdom, have looked at the Bundesliga's fan culture and community-based approach to club administration as a model for sustainable football growth.

Exemptions and Current Situation

The rule does make exceptions for clubs where one investor or company has given significant financing for more than 20 years. Three clubs are covered by this exception: Bayer Leverkusen (owned by pharmaceutical giant Bayer), VfL Wolfsburg (owned by Volkswagen), and formerly TSG Hoffenheim (owned by Dietmar Hopp); although Hoffenheim returned to compliance with 50+1 in 2023. Some clubs, such as RB Leipzig, have come under fire for taking advantage of loopholes by limiting membership to a small group linked to the investor, thereby circumventing the intent of the rule.

Federal Cartel Office Findings and Their Impact

Key evaluation of the 50+1 rule was published in June 2025 by the Federal Cartel Office. It verified the legality of fan-majority ownership as well as confirmed that the rule itself does not violate antitrust law. Given that the rule had been accused of antitrust violations for years, this is a major endorsement. Still, the Cartel Office determined that continuous exceptions for teams like Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are not reasonable.

According to the Federal Cartel Office, “it no longer appears possible to provide permanent protection for clubs that have already received a subsidy exemption under the previously proposed conditions”.

It underlined that all clubs must function under homogeneous competitive circumstances; therefore, no club should have a continuing exception from the 50+1 ownership rule. This is a tipping point because these clubs will have to change their ownership patterns in order to completely comply. The regulator also emphasized the need for democratic and open fan membership access. Clubs must let real fans take part in decision-making to alleviate worries about clubs with limited membership policies, such as RB Leipzig.

Future Implications for German Football

The German Football League (DFL) welcomed the results of the Federal Cartel Office as a step toward legal clarity and sustainability. The DFL aims to carefully review the rule and come up with long-term solutions that honor fan control and guarantee legal stability. The death of permanent exemptions forces Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg to move toward systems allowing more extensive fan interaction. In the Bundesliga, this could change club management and ownership. Furthermore, the results match with recent European Court of Justice rulings urging integrity and justice in sports management. While the fan-centric German football model could be enhanced, it must also develop in line with existing legal restrictions.

Still bearing its 50+1 rule, which shields teams from outside financial clout and safeguards fan power, German football also gives fan power. While the 2025 Federal Cartel Office assessment confirms the legitimacy of the regulation, it also calls for the removal of permanent exclusions and stricter application of democratic member access. These developments indicate a new age for German football where the interplay of modern legal standards and tradition will help define the future of club ownership. Teams have to negotiate changes to keep Bundesliga compliance and competitive balance, but fans should expect confirmation of their important role as stakeholders.