Leverkusens Carro moves into DFL committee, Watzke remains DFL boss

Bayer Leverkusen’s managing director Fernando Carro has been elected to the DFL supervisory board. In this way, a representative of one of the clubs that are excluded from 50+1 are sitting in the DFL leadership bodies. In addition to the elections, the future of the rule was an issue at the General Assembly of the DFL. Hans-Joachim Watzke was confirmed as Presidium spokesman.

Carro was unanimously elected at the DFL General Assembly in Berlin by the representatives of the 36 clubs in the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. He had started without a candidate. The candidacy of Leverkusen’s managing director paid special attention with regard to the future of the 50+1 rule.

Carro repeatedly criticized 50+1

In June, the Federal Cartel Office recommended that the DFL to be abolished for legal certainty of the 50+1 rule for VfL Wolfsburg and Carros Club Bayer 04 Leverkusen. If the DFL does not do so, the rule is in danger in contrast.

Leverkusen and Wolfsburg expressly had after the statement on 50+1 of the Federal Cartel Office “Reserved legal steps”. With its position in the European Club Association ECA, Carro has become one of the most influential officials in German football and is now also strengthening its position in the DFL. Leverkusen’s managing director repeatedly criticized the 50+1 rule.

Bundeskartellamt demands majority for mother clubs everywhere

In the DFL you now think you can find a compromise to maintain the rule, and that should happen instead of against Carro. The DFL Presidium spokesman Hans-Joachim Watzke re-elected at the General Assembly clearly spoke out for 50+1 in a speech. “We should do everything to get 50+1 preserved”he said. “For me this is the elementary of our people’s sport. We should all fight for it.”

Watzke left open exactly how to fight for 50+1. At least one thing appears: “The Bundeskartellamt has given a lower limit: the majority of voting rights will have to be with a membership -determined mother club at every club” in the future “said Alexander Scheuch, sports rights from the University of Bonn, in an interview with the sports show.

Leverkusen and Wolfsburg would therefore have to transfer more than 50 percent of the voting rights to corresponding regular associations. Cartelamts President Andreas Mundt told the sports show: “It is at the clubs and the DFL to get something here that corresponds to competition law.”

Organized fan scenes in German football have already made it clear on the weekend of the 1st main round in the DFB Cup on banners that the rule is not negotiable for them.

With Anne Baumann for the first time a woman on the supervisory board

Eric Huwer (HSV) and Ralf Hüchen (Hertha BSC) received two other Supervisory Board of DFL GmbH, the occupation of which all 36 clubs of the DFL voted.

Anne Baumann (SV Darmstadt 98) received the separate second division on the supervisory board. She is the first woman on the Supervisory Board and the first in the DFL lead since Donata Hopfen from the DFL management. Stephan Schippers (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Christian Keller (1. FC Köln) and Rüdiger Fritsch (SV Darmstadt 98) were eliminated from the supervisory board.

*Chairman
*STV. Chairman

Presidium largely confirmed

The Presidium of the DFL e. V. was practically confirmed in his previous line -up. Watzke was re-elected as a spokesman without a candidate and thus remains the head of the DFL GmbH and DFB Vice President. At UEFA, he was confirmed in the UEFA Executive Committee in April and also rose as Vice President at the European Association.

The only two changes in the DFL Presidium: The place of Bayern Munich’s outgoing finance Michael Diederich remains at FC Bayern, but goes back to CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. Oke Göttlich (FC St. Pauli) and Steffen Schneekloth (Holstein Kiel) also exchange roles as the 2nd deputy speaker and simple member. There were no places on opposites.

*Speaker
** 1. Deputy speaker
*** 2. Deputy speaker