"I was always a friend of opening up that rule..." – Jürgen Klinsmann weighs in on 50+1 debate
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Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer made plenty of headlines last week when he called for the abolishment of the 50+1 rule, which ensures German clubs retain the majority of their own voting rights.
The 71-year-old said he believes clubs should be free to decide their own path and questioned whether some teams truly adhere to the rule – likely referencing RB Leipzig's creative workaround with Red Bull, as well as Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, who are exempt due to their historical ties to Bayer and Volkswagen, respectively.
Germany legend Jürgen Klinsmann, who has previously described the 50+1 rule as “a disadvantage for the Bundesliga on the international stage,” has now weighed in, seeing “both sides” of the debate over keeping or “opening up” the rule.
“Personally, I was always a friend of opening up that rule, but obviously there are two sides to it," Klinsmann said during a media roundtable when asked by Bulinews.com about Hainer’s comments and the debate that has followed.
He pointed out that the rule represents a “safety net” for German clubs, protecting them from outside investors who could destabilize operations, but he also sees why some flexibility could benefit larger clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
“If you open it up and some clubs overspend, get in trouble, or their bookkeeping isn’t the best, then there’s a risk they could go down pretty fast. It’s a safety net for many teams, but I understand both sides,” Klinsmann said.
"When you talk about a club like Bayern Munich, it’s about competing in the Champions League. Their competitors come from the Premier League, the richest league in the world, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and two or three Italian powerhouses. That’s the competition Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund mainly face in Europe), and a little bit of help regarding the 50+1 rule wouldn’t be bad there," he added, noting that he doesn't have a definitive solution.
"I leave it up to the experts to decide what the final solution is, but it’s a tricky question," the German World Cup winner concluded.
During the interview, Klinsmann also praised Bayern Munich star Harry Kane, describing the England captain as the perfect ambassador for the Bundesliga. Read more here.
