Licensing chaos
Forced relegation from a traditional club: clarity in the 3rd league
June 12, 2026 – 8:54 a.mReading time: 1 min.
TSV 1860 Munich loses its starting place in the 3rd league – because the club was missing 2.7 million euros to fulfill its license. A team that was relegated in sport benefits from this.
The DFB has awarded TSV Havelse the starting place that TSV 1860 Munich lost due to the license being revoked. The Lower Saxony club was relegated in 17th place – but now remains in the 3rd league.
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As the DFB announced on Thursday, Havelse will receive the vacated place as the “best-placed sporting relegated player”. This completes the field of 20 teams. The club’s documents had passed the licensing test. All admission criteria in the economic and technical-organizational areas were met. Coach Samir Ferchichi’s team ended the season in 17th place with 35 points after 38 match days and was therefore one of four relegated teams.
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Due to Munich’s forced relegation, Havelse slipped to 16th place – over the line. The Lions are at the bottom despite 56 points. The fact that regional league champions Nordost Lok Leipzig did not receive the contract is regulated in the DFB rules of play. Lok had lost the promotion duel against the Würzburger Kickers.
Only four teams can be promoted from five regional leagues. The direct climbers are SV Meppen, Fortuna Köln and SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. The Würzburger Kickers also received the league license after winning the promotion duel. Würzburg only came second in the Bavarian Regional League, but benefited from champions 1. FC Nürnberg II foregoing promotion.