Germany's Federal Cartel Office has found no fundamental antitrust concerns with the 50+1 rule that prevents outside investors from gaining majority control of professional football clubs, ending years of regulatory uncertainty over the policy.
The authority said it sees no reason to intervene on competition grounds but warned that longstanding exemptions granted to Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg are no longer sustainable. Cartel Office President Andreas Mundt said the rule must be applied consistently and without unjustified distinctions, noting the league had failed to do so during a December 2023 vote involving Hannover 96.
The 50+1 rule, which bars external investors from acquiring voting majorities at the 36 clubs in Germany's top two divisions, has been in place since 1998. Deutsche Fußball Liga President Hans-Joachim Watzke called the rule "a central component of German football." The authority also advised the league to ensure fan participation rights and open membership access going forward.