TSG gives up special status
Fernando Carro, managing director of Bayer Leverkusen, remains calm about the ongoing issue of the “50+1” rule despite the new development at TSG Hoffenheim. “This is an individual decision by Mr. Hopp and TSG Hoffenheim, which does not change the ongoing process and its necessity,” said Carro of the German Press Agency. “We are confident that the issue will soon be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone involved.” Like VfL Wolfsburg and TSG Hoffenheim, the “Werkself” are exempt from the “50+1” rule.
The people of Kraichgau announced on Wednesday that the previous majority shareholder, Dietmar Hopp, was returning his majority voting rights in TSG Hoffenheim-Spielbetriebs GmbH to the parent club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim eV (to the news). The return means the Bundesliga club is relinquishing their special status outside of the “50+1” rule.
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The regulation, which only applies to German professional football, basically states that the decision-making majority must always remain with the parent club when investing. This is to prevent clubs – as in England, for example – from being completely controlled by their financiers.
The Bundeskartellamt classified the “50+1” rule in 2021 as harmless in terms of sports policy, but criticized the three exceptions for TSG Hoffenheim with majority owner Hopp and the company-controlled clubs Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg. The three clubs are currently exempt from the “50+1” rule because they have been significantly supported by a corporation or investor for more than 20 years. The clarification process is still ongoing.
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