Federal Cartel Office extends deadline for Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig to present plans to comply with 50+1

1

The Federal Cartel Office have extended the deadline it set for Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig and Hannover to reveal their plans for them to comply with 50+1.

Last month, it was concluded that exemptions to 50+1 would no longer be possible in German football. There are currently only two teams exempt, Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, while the Federal Cartel Office also questioned the running of Leipzig and Hannover, which have a ‘complex’ relationship between the board and Martin Kind. 

It was decided that these clubs must work with the DFL to present a solution that would bring them in line with the 50+1 rule. An original deadline was set for August 18th, but at the request of the DFL, an extension was given, and in a statement to kicker, the Federal Cartel Office said: 

“We have received requests for extensions from the DFL and individual parties invited to participate, and have granted each of these to the extent requested,” 

However, there are continued debates around the matter, and the clubs that have been brought into question could mount a legal challenge. On top of this, as previously reported, there is already lobbying internally at the DFL to potentially abolish 50+1 entirely. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan