Zero grounds for intervening in Bundesliga's 50+1 rule, Bundeskartellamt says
The German Federal Cartel Office finds the long‑standing Werksklubs exemptions not sustainable, yet sees no reason to act on the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule provided it is applied consistently.
Zero grounds for intervening in the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule, the Bundeskartellamt said on Thursday.
Werksklubs exemptions deemed unsustainable
The agency stated that the exemptions for club‑owned “Werksklubs” in German professional football are not sustainable in the long term. It warned that continued special treatment could invite legal challenges.
50+1 rule left untouched
Bundeskartellamt President Andreas Mundt added that the authority sees no reason to intervene in the 50+1 rule, provided the rule is applied consistently and without unjustified differences.
"Voraussetzung dafür ist aber, dass sie konsequent und ohne sachlich nicht gerechtfertigte Unterschiede angewendet wird," Mundt said.
The statement was issued in a press release on 12 August 2026 and published by Handelsblatt.
Implications
While the exemption policy may be revisited by the German Football League (DFL), the 50+1 rule remains permissible under competition law as long as it is enforced uniformly across clubs.
