Despite its dominance of the German leagues, the Bundesliga will have to battle against the English Premier League, which has taken over the football world. If this is the case, the German leagues may be left out in the cold, or they may have to resort to new tactics to succeed.
Bayern Munich’s dominance
Whether it is the best German football team of all time, or just the best German club, Bayern Munich have always been a force to be reckoned with. But is their dominance in the Bundesliga a good thing for the game, or a bad thing?
The dominant Bayern Munich side of the past decade has won the Bundesliga every year except one. During their eight title winning campaigns, they averaged more than 14 points clear of their rivals. This is the highest average point tally in European football history. The Bundesliga is a one-sided league. The gap between the top clubs is 23 points. In mid-table competition, it’s less. This means that other clubs are forced to adopt more prudent approaches. You can check this Bundesliga imbalance indirectly via some statistics and the odds through the sports betting comparison KickForm.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Bayern has also helped increase awareness of German football worldwide. As the biggest club in Germany, they have been able to influence the country’s football on a national and international scale. Bayern have also recently expanded their international operations. They will open offices in the United States and Asia. This will help them to extend their influence in the world’s biggest sporting market. Another aspect of Bayern’s dominance is their ability to outbid their rivals on players. They have been known to poach their rivals’ best players. While Bayern’s success has challenged other clubs to keep up, they have not lifted as much silverware in recent years. And while it’s true that other German clubs have improved over the years, the German league still has a long way to go.
German football’s 50+1 ownership rule
Several fan groups have argued that Germany’s 50+1 ownership rule, which limits club ownership to fans, could help reconnect German fans with the Premier League. It is also believed that it prevents clubs from taking over and ramping up ticket prices. However, it does not solve all the problems.
The rule allows exceptions for investors who have had an interest in a club for at least 20 years. However, it also undermines the uniform application and enforcement of the rule. The German competition regulator has criticized the so-called benefactor exemptions. It argues that they are a problem because they create competitive disadvantage for clubs not exempt from the rule. Some clubs have found ways around the rule.
For example, Hoffenheim, founded in 1899 by a local businessman, was recently taken over by SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp. The club is a member of the Champions League. However, it adheres to the 50+1 rule on paper only. Another exception is Bayer Leverkusen.
The pharmaceutical company Bayer is owned by Volkswagen Group. The company is a major shareholder in the club. The rule also allows clubs to bring in outside investors who can provide suggestions. However, they must have fans’ support. Another example of a club exempt from the rule is Bundesliga rival Wolfsburg. The club was founded as a workers’ club to house Volkswagen workers. It was later renamed VfL Wolfsburg.
The DFL has tried to scrap the rule. Martin Kind, president of Hannover 96, applied for an exemption in 2018. However, 32 of 35 professional clubs rejected his proposal. In 2009, Kind tried to take over the club entirely, but fans fought back, ousting him.
Salary caps could level the playing field
Currently, there are no salary caps in the English Premier League and German Bundesliga. They are, however, being debated by several European association football leagues.
A salary cap is a measure to limit the amount of money teams can spend on players. The idea is to prevent richer teams from signing star players. It is also a way to make sure that parity is maintained between teams. In theory, a salary cap would be good for small market teams. They could get creative with their contracts. It would also discourage foreign ownership. Besides, teams with the most talent would have more money to spend. The cap would also reduce the number of teams in the league. This would reduce the asking prices for players. It would also make the Premier League more competitive. The idea is to level the playing field and make it easier to negotiate contracts.
The idea of a salary cap in European football is not new. However, the literature on it does not seem to be adapted to the European context. The problem is that the literature does not explain how a salary cap would work in the European football pyramid. There are several models of salary cap being discussed among clubs. Some suggest a percentage of revenue salary cap, while others suggest an absolute salary cap. A percentage of revenue salary cap would be more effective in the context of European football. It would lower the aggregate salary payments in the league and increase club profits. The American football leagues have salary caps, but there are no comparable systems in the European pyramid. However, if the regulator of a league found that the league had financial health of at least a few years, it would likely consider proposing a salary cap.
