German Football League passes structural reform

The new model will be effective from the next general assembly, which is set to be held on 21 August. TSG managing director Frank Briel had the following to say about the changes: "Today's structural adjustments are timely and consistent in order to best meet the current and future needs of professional football."

An overview of the most important changes:

- The office of president will no longer act as the "highest representative" of the DFL. In future, the chairman of the management board of DFL GmbH will act as "spokesman of the presidium" and will be responsible for the coordination of its work. Responsibility for overall operations as well as external communications and representation will thus be tied together.

- In the interest of increased participation on the part of clubs, partial assemblies of the 1. and 2. Bundesliga have been fixed within the statutes of the DFL. These partial assemblies are intended to act as a forum for discussion and the exchange of information and points of view. These assemblies are scheduled to take place at least twice each season. In addition, 1. and 2. Bundesliga clubs will be responsible for electing the members of both the presidium and the licensing committee of DFL e.V. as well as appoint members of the supervisory board of DFL GmbH. This process will take place at three-year intervals and will be integrated within the structure of general assemblies.

- There will no longer be any overlap of personnel between the presidium and the licensing committee. The election of the six members of the committee will take place independently of the election of the presidium. It will no longer be permitted that members of both the executive and supervisory boards identify with one particular club. 

- An additional reform pertains to the awarding of media contracts. Until now, contracts worth over 30 million euros per year were subject to approval by the members of the general assembly. Under the new system, a right of objection on the part of the general assembly will be in place for contracts worth over 100 million euros per year. This proceeding can be initiated by a two-thirds majority of the assembly. 

- Decisions regarding the distribution of media revenues will continue to be made by the presidium, the structure of which remains unchanged. As before, DFL GmbH has a supervisory board which is presided over by the chairman. 

- DFL President Reinhard Rauball commented on the newly-implemented changes: "I am convinced that this is the right way to best tackle future challenges, especially given that there is agreement among all parties that the changes implemented today are only a first step. There is also the all-important issue of the current dual working relationship between both DFL e.V. (registered association) and DFL GmbH (private limited company). However, any changes to be made in this regard require more extensive examination - including from a legal perspective - as well as further consultation between different parties."

 The full German language announcement can be accessed here.