Bayern Munich and 13 other Women’s Bundesliga clubs have announced a split from the German Football Federation
Women’s Bundesliga clubs have announced their decision to split from the German Football Federation (DFB) and form a new joint organisation.
The 14 clubs had originally reached an agreement with the DFB to form the new association.
However, in a statement on Thursday night, they revealed they will go it alone to establish a league association similar to the Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL), which operates the top two divisions of men’s football in the country.
The DFB, though, have insisted that they want to continue talks with clubs.
The announcement comes just after Germany was handed the rights to host Women’s Euro 2029.
What have the Women’s Bundesliga clubs said?
The formation of the Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V. has been described as a “new chapter in the history of women’s football in Germany”.
In a statement, the 14 clubs said they would form an association “ensuring the modern, professional and sustainable development of the Women’s Bundesliga and strengthening the commercial potential of professional women’s football.”
The clubs announced they would be proceeding without the DFB. However, whether the DFB get involved in the future “is still open”.
Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, said: “In the discussions with the DFB, the key points for the establishment of a joint FBL GmbH had already been agreed upon, which made the questioning of the negotiated cornerstones at this point all the more surprising for us clubs — especially since the clubs will be investing many times more in the Women’s Bundesliga.
“In order not to lose any more time, we have therefore unanimously decided to finalise the founding of the FBL e.V. as the association of Bundesliga clubs in December – without the DFB.”
Gemeinsamer Prozess der 14 Bundesligisten: Gründung des Frauen-Bundesliga FBL e.V.
Zur Meldung: https://t.co/XvZ94gkCkI
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Eintracht Frankfurt CEO Axel Hellman also expressed “disappointment” with the DFB in a club statement.
He said: “We, the 14 clubs, are disappointed that agreements already reached with the DFB are not reflected in the contract documents. For this reason, the founding process is now taking place without the DFB’s involvement.”
Bayer Leverkusen also described it as “regrettable” and “disappointing that the DFB are not involved.
What have the DFB said?
As per ESPN, the DFB expressed “bemusement” at the development but said it wanted to continue talks with clubs.
DFB General Secretary Holger Blask said: “The DFB remains unchanged with the promises and investments made in the course of the planned joint venture.
“We are convinced that the joint establishment of an FBL GmbH is the right way for all parties involved.
“No contracts ready for signature have been available so far. The negotiators of the clubs had sent the DFB far-reaching additions and requests for changes, to which the DFB reacted in the usual negotiation.
“We will continue the discussions with the clubs in the coming weeks – constructive and objective.”
Why have Women’s Bundesliga clubs formed a new association?
The formation of the new association aims to “strengthen the commercial potential” of women’s football in Germany and help with the development of the Women’s Bundesliga.
A statement from the clubs added: “The basis for the merger of the clubs is the intention to invest significantly in women’s football, to promote it in sporting terms and make it more visible in society, thereby raising it to a new professional level.”
The original plan was for the clubs to invest €700 million (£611m) and the DFB to add a further €100m (£87m).
The DFB would have taken a 50 per cent shareholding in the new organisation, with the remaining 50 per cent split equally between clubs.
Germany has fallen behind Spain, England and France in the European football landscape. No German team has won the Women’s Champions League since 2015, while the German national team has not won a major trophy since Euro 2013.
They recently suffered defeat in the Nations League final to Spain, where Jenni Hermoso enjoyed a fairytale comeback for the victors.
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