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To understand who owns the German football clubs, we first need to examine recent events and the meaning of the 50+1 rule.
German football stands out for its unique ownership model, which gives fans real influence. Member associations hold the majority of control in each club. This system, known as the “50+1 rule,” limits outside investors and ensures that fans – through their associations – guide major decisions.
For decades, this rule has defined German football’s identity. It keeps clubs closely tied to their local communities and shields the game from excessive commercial pressure. Moreover, it reinforces the idea that football belongs to the people, not just to corporations.
In late 2023, clubs from Germany’s top two leagues voted to sell 8% of the shares in a new German Football League (DFL) company. This company manages broadcasting rights. The plan aimed to raise one billion euros from an investor for about 20 years. In return, the investor would help expand international marketing and create a new streaming platform.
However, fans reacted immediately. They filled stadiums with protests, interrupting matches across the country. Supporters feared that investors would undermine the 50+1 rule and weaken fan control. Their movement worked: the DFL scrapped the plan. As a result, fans managed to preserve the 50+1 rule and protect the spirit of German football – at least for now.
The following sections explore how the 50+1 rule functions, how supporters shape their clubs, and how football remains deeply connected to local communities.
The German Football Association (DFB) oversees 25,456 clubs and 6.8 million members. On its official website, the DFB even describes itself as Germany’s largest social network.
Until 1998, all clubs operated as non-profit associations. That year, however, the 50+1 rule changed everything. It allowed private companies to buy shares in clubs for the first time—but crucially, not enough to take full control.
To play in DFL and DFB competitions, a club’s members must own at least 50% plus one share. This structure guarantees that fans, not investors, control key decisions. Still, several clubs have received exemptions.
For instance, Bayer Leverkusen, owned by the pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG, received one early in the Bundesliga’s history. Similarly, Volkswagen AG owns VfL Wolfsburg, justified by its long relationship with the club. Dietmar Hopp, co-founder of SAP, owns part of TSG Hoffenheim. Although the club follows the rule formally, Hopp’s influence makes it a practical exception. Moreover, RB Leipzig – founded in 2009 by Red Bull GmbH – technically meets the rule, but in reality, Red Bull investors control its members’ association.
The rule’s creators had three main goals:
Keep decision-making power in the hands of member associations.
Protect fair competition.
Maintain links between professional and amateur football.
To grasp why the rule matters, we must look at how football became woven into German society. After all, who truly owns German football?
Football reached Germany in the late 19th century, but many Germans rejected it at first. They called it the “English disease,” viewing it as foreign and un-German compared to traditional gymnastics.
By the early 20th century, the middle class began playing the sport. In the 1920s, however, football spread among the working class, especially in the Rhineland. The new eight-hour workday, introduced in 1919, gave workers time for leisure and encouraged the creation of local clubs.
At the same time, the Rhineland was undergoing rapid industrialization. Migrants from rural eastern regions moved west and often struggled to adapt. Football, therefore, became a way to build new communities and a shared sense of belonging. Clubs provided gathering places and symbols of unity, as researcher Udo Merkel explains.
The Bundesliga’s creation in the 1960s brought professional structure and new clubs to every major city. Consequently, German football modernized quickly. From the 2000s onward, many clubs listed on stock exchanges, and commercialization accelerated. As a result, football drifted away from its working-class roots, attracted middle-class audiences, and began losing its strong community ties.
The 50+1 rule, however, has prevented a complete break between clubs and their communities. German teams still put fans first and maintain closer relationships with them than clubs in any other major European league. Ticket prices remain low, making matches accessible to everyone. According to Statista, the Bundesliga has recorded the highest average attendance among Europe’s top leagues for the past decade.
Despite growing commercialization, football grounds still foster identity and belonging. Fans have fought hard to defend the 50+1 rule, keeping clubs accountable to their communities. Nevertheless, the rule now faces constant pressure from business groups eager to loosen restrictions. If they succeed, clubs could drift further from their supporters and turn entirely into corporate ventures.
In the end, football – which once united people and embodied social purpose – risks becoming just another business. The fans’ ongoing struggle to protect the 50+1 rule may ultimately decide the future of the game in Germany.
This article is written by Rareș Rădoiu.
