In a previous article, we mentioned last week that the 50+1 rule in the Bundesliga prevents Bayern Munich from spending as carelessly as many of its European competitors do, because of not being able to have a private investor, or owner, who would bring in billions of Euros of his own money.
In this piece, we will look at that Bundesliga (and Bundesliga 2) rule, and explore why it is actually a good thing.
What It Is
On Bundesliga.com, the 50 +1 rule is explained in detail, while at the same time, never sounding boring or too legalese. Basically, the rule prohibits private individuals or groups, from owning a majority of the stakes in a German football club.
Instead, it ensures that each club is run as a majority of its dues-paying members see fit. Until the year 1998, German clubs were in fact just nonprofit organisations, where no private ownership was allowed.
50+1 was instituted that year, in order to allow clubs to financially grow, while at the same time safeguarding their integrity and the autonomy of the clubs’ members.
How It Works
When the rule was implemented, organisations became limited or joint-stock companies, created as subsidiaries of their clubs.
Let’s take the example of Bayern Munich, which created the FC Bayern München AG, to cover its men’s first team, a full three quarters of which is owned by its members club, the, FC Bayern München e.V., while the rest of the club’s stakes are distributed equally amongst three sponsors, namely Adidas, Allianz and Audi.
Each of them owns 8.3% of the club’s shares. Other clubs in the Bundesliga and the second tier are free to structure their ownership differently, as long as they still comply with 50+1 rules.
Exceptions to 50+1
Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg were granted special exemptions to the rule because both clubs were originally formed by major corporations – Bayer in Leverkusen’s case and Volkswagen in Wolfsburg’s – and had received investment from them for more than two decades.
In December 2014, TSG Hoffenheim had also been given an exemption, due to the fact that software billionaire Dietmar Hopp had been investing in the club for 20 years as well. But in early 2023, Hopp was bringing the side into compliance with the 50+1 rule.
Then, in June of this year, the German federal cartel office ruled that these exceptions are no longer lawful, forcing Leverkusen and Wolfsburg to move into compliance with the rule.
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The Advantages of 50+1
As a result of the rule, Bundesliga stadia have the highest average attendance in world football, since the clubs don’t have owners who would seek to raise ticket prices, in order to maximise profits.
Clubs also have their wage expenditures under control, while always being in compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
The One Possible Disadvantage
The Bundesliga is the only major European league that functions this way. While all others allow private ownership to some extent, they can sign the greatest stars on the planet, while the Bundesliga, every year, has to sell its best players abroad.
This is a major impediment to the ability of German clubs to spend serious money on transfers. Whenever anyone claims that Bayern Munich, or any other Bundesliga side, do not spend enough, this is the reason why.
Even so, the level of play in the Bundesliga is still very high. Since 2013, the Bavarians have won the Champions League twice, while Borussia Dortmund have been beaten finalists twice since then.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt have won the Europa League a few seasons ago, and Leverkusen have been to its final in 2024.
That proves that even in this romantic mode of ownership, the league is still quite competitive internationally.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Jan Huebner
Recording Date: 02.08.2025