Chancellor confirms Watzke's re-election at DFL - backing from top leadership
In a recent DFL member meeting, Hans-Joachim Watzke, CEO of BVB and spokesperson of the German Football League's presidium, was re-elected as the chairman of the DFL supervisory board with a unanimous vote of 36. His re-election comes as he also declared his intention to become the president of BVB at the member meeting in November.
The meeting was not without its controversies, as Watzke demanded that the Federal Cartel Office specify its intentions regarding the 50+1 rule. The Federal Cartel Office had previously asked the league association to improve the 50+1 rule during its review. Watzke expressed concerns about the changing communication from the Federal Cartel Office and the potential implications for the 50+1 rule, a regulation that guarantees societal stake in football and is essential for the national sport.
The 50+1 rule prevents investors from gaining a majority of votes in the capital societies of clubs. Notably, Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer Leverkusen, was nominated for the DFL supervisory board, making him a representative of an exception to the 50+1 rule. The candidate proposed for the DFL supervisory board management and supported by all votes was Eric Huwer, the HSV board member, who was elected for the first time to the DFL supervisory board the day before.
Watzke, a staunch supporter of the 50+1 rule, expressed his concerns about the stagnation in international TV revenue for the DFL. The league is generating around 218 million euros for the 2025/2026 season, a figure that pales in comparison to the Premier League's almost ten times as much from international TV deals, and the Spanish La Liga's roughly three times as much.
Another significant personnel matter at the meeting was the nomination of Fernando Carro for the supervisory board. All votes for Carro were unanimous, as his potential opponents had withdrawn. The vote of the clubs on the new regulation at a general meeting has been postponed several times.
In a surprising turn of events, Chancellor Friedrich Merz endorsed the 50+1 rule, stating that he finds the current regulation good and remains a supporter. Watzke also expressed his support for the rule, believing that Germany needs to focus on nurturing talented players aged 16 to 18, an area where he believes England has an abundance.
The deadline for the DFL and the affected clubs to submit statements to the cartel office has been extended to mid-October. The outcome of these discussions and the general meeting will shape the future of German football and the application of the 50+1 rule.
