Bundesliga bucks trends to double-down on fan ownership stake

The international soccer market is frothy these days, with clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool rumored to be up for billion dollar sales. But Germany's top soccer league refuses to participate.

The Bundesliga, one of the world's most famous leagues, confirmed Wednesday that it will double down on its unique "50+1" club ownership structure. The league plans to limit violations in the future and punish clubs who refuse to comply with the rule.

In 50+1, investors may only control a maximum of 49% of any German soccer club. That leaves the majority of each institution -- the namesake 50+1 percent -- in full control of the fans.

"The 50+1 rule does significantly more good than harm in Germany," said Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. "Most of the investors want to earn money. And where do they get it from? The spectators."

Bundesliga president Reinhard Rauball agreed.

"The Bundesliga is remaining true to its principles," he said, "and maintaining its reliance on the factors which have made a decisive contribution to the success of the professional game in Germany in recent decades: stability, continuity and proximity to fans."

Germany's 50+1 model is unique in a market where most top clubs are controlled by hedge funds or sovereign wealth. While some fans bemoan Germany's lack of investment, worrying that it will cause the country's league to suffer, the vast majority see a clear benefit to fan ownership -- and demonstrate that through regular participation in their clubs.

On the field, 50+1 has not stalled the progress of German clubs. 

Stalwart club Bayern Munich has frequently made the latter stages of the Champions League, lifting the trophy as recently as 2020. Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League title last May. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig consistently challenge on the European stage.

It's Leipzig, though, which stands to lose the most from the Bundesliga's 50+1 crackdown. 

While Leipzig does comply with 50+1, it does so on a technicality, One hundred percent of the "fans" with voting shares in the club are active employees of Red Bull GmbH, while the remainder of the club is owned by Red Bull itself. 

Even their name flouts the spirit of the rules -- the "RB" technically stands for "rasenballsport," or "lawn ball" --- but average fans rightfully just read it as "Red Bull" instead.

The Bundesliga's resistance to these violations could land Leipzig in hot water. Opposing German fans are already tired of Leipzig's antics. Some fans have boycotted Leipzig's games, refusing to travel to their stadium.

"Of course Borussia Dortmund make money, but we do it in order to play football," Dortmund fan and Leipzig protestor Jan-Henrik Gruszecki told The Guardian. "Leipzig play football in order to sell a product and a lifestyle. That's the difference."