Should also apply to regional leader
© Imago
For the 2025/26 season, a changed U23 regulation comes into force in the 3rd division. The German Football Association (DFB) reacts with the adaptation of the game regulations to a judgment of the arbitration tribunal for the regional league Bavaria and adapts to previous requirements. These had previously been classified as non-EU-compliant.
So far, third division clubs had to lead four U23 players with German citizenship and without A-international for another association on the game report. From now on this no longer applies, at least in this form. In the future, U23 players from the EU or states with corresponding association agreements will also apply within the meaning of their nationality or international matches.
The DFB said that the new regulation “planning and legal certainty was created for the coming season”. The change was triggered by a judgment of the constant arbitration tribunal for the regional league Bavaria in May 2025, which classified the previous rule as a violation of European law. The guideline is discrimination against nationality and in fact a quota for German players is the same, the reason was.
Nevertheless, the general U23 regulation remains, since the purpose of the targeted promotion of young players is a legitimate common good interest in the European Court of Justice. According to the DFB, it remains an important pillar of sporting promotion. Another evaluation of the rule is planned by the 2026/27 season, and a new adjustment is not excluded. The DFB is also in exchange with the regional leaves, where the regulation is also to be changed for the coming season.