Bundeskartellamt

German Football Investment Rules: Federal Cartel Office Demands Stricter Enforcement

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The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has affirmed that professional football clubs in Germany must continue operating under the foundational 50+1 ownership rule, while warning that league authorities must enforce current exemptions with greater consistency. In an assessment released by the antitrust authority, officials determined that the structural regulation remains permissible under competition law, but … Read more

German Antitrust Office Challenges Bundesliga’s 50+1 Rule Exemptions for Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, and RB Leipzig

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The structural foundation of German professional football faces a rigorous test after the Bundeskartellamt, Germany’s federal competition authority, raised formal legal concerns regarding the enforcement of the 50+1 rule. According to regulatory statements reviewed by sports journalists, exemptions granted to corporate-backed entities like Bayer 04 Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, and RB Leipzig lack long-term legal sustainability … Read more