The footballing world endured one of its most intense days on Monday in the aftermath of the recently announced European Super League by twelve clubs that sent shockwaves around the world. While the list incorporated most of the top clubs across Europe, current European champions Bayern Munich and their Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund were a notable exclusion, with the two clubs later confirming their rejection of the Super League notion.
Here, at the 4th Official, we will discuss how Bayern and Dortmund have passed the ESL test with flying colours and have managed to not succumb, even under severe pressure from European heavyweights.
50+1 Rule
One of the major factors that make Bundesliga a class apart from other leagues is the existence of the “50+1” rule that prevents private entities from holding the majority of stakes in the club.
It essentially means that both Bayern and Dortmund are run majorly by fans. They are mostly run by ex-players and club legends, who understand the fundamental core of football and with Bundesliga deeply rooted in fan culture, there has been a cast-iron rejection of the ESL in Germany.
Although there have been some exceptions to the rule over the years, including Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim. While RB Leipzig operate by breaching a loophole, the rule itself has created a strong fan culture in Germany, which has led to Bundesliga clubs denouncing the European Super League, including Leipzig as well.
They Are Well Managed
Apart from certain regulations in place that protect the harmony of fan culture in Germany, it is a fact that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are among the best-managed club in European football.
Bayern, in particular, are known for their ingenious management that has seen them flourish in the European footballing scene without even splashing too much cash in the market.
As for Dortmund, they have been growing steadily ever since their Champions League run in 2013 and are currently the only German club to have registered themselves in the stock market. And although they did register a €20 million loss during the pandemic, their clever marketing structure and lower risk-taking have helped them avoid the heaps of loan clubs like FC Barcelona and Arsenal are living under.
ESL Is Evil
While good management and certain regulations in German football have prevented Bayern and Dortmund from getting overrun by business tycoons, they have never historically shied away from a good market opportunity.
The idea of a European Super League, however, breaks the fundamental ethos of football, especially with the founding members not being subjected to relegation. As such, both the clubs have committed themselves to UEFA Champions League reforms instead, as confirmed by their official statements.
