German league bosses: European top leagues 'on wrong financial track'

New Year's reception of the German Football League (DFL) at the Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten. Marc Lenz, Managing Director of DFL GmbH, speaks at the DFL's New Year's reception. Florian Wiegand/dpa

The German Bundesliga is on a "healthier" path than other European top leagues because it doesn't allow external investors to fully take over clubs, German Football League (DFL) managing directors Steffen Merkel and Marc Lenz have said.

Merkel and Lenz said in a joint interview with Monday's edition of Kicker sports magazine that German football also needs investment but that is "not about the next striker but about our long-term approach."

Unlike other top leagues, German professional football has the 50+1 rule under which full club takeovers by external investors can not happen because the club must hold a majority of 50% plus one share.

“European football is on the wrong financial track, as high squad costs in many leagues are not covered by revenue and have to be funded by investors or debt capital,” Lenz said.

“Much of this money has in fact effectively been burnt abroad rather than put to good use – fortunately for the Bundesliga. Unlike other leagues, we are not dependent on this capital.”

The DFL leaders said that equity injections in Europe’s top leagues amounted to more than €15 billion ($17.6 billion) between 2014 and 2024.

Lenz said they appreciate the English Premier League and their colleagues there but that it "doesn't have to be glorified" either.

“In recent years, this economic strength has only been partially translated into sporting success at European level, and the clubs are reporting significant operating deficits – most recently €1.8 billion in 2024/25 – coupled with a high degree of dependence on investors," he said.

"We are taking a different, healthier approach.”

But Merkel and Lenz said that German football also needs capital, but this investment concerns areas like infrastructure, academies and training centres.

“These long-term investments have a huge impact on our future competitiveness. We need to change our mindset – it’s not about the next striker, but about our long-term strategy," they said.