Opinion
Finally abolish the relegation again!
The Bundesliga relegation offers thrills and drama, but sporting justice lacks them. Why this format urgently needs to be reformed.
Two games may decide on the future of a club – and justice falls by the wayside. Welcome to the Bundesliga relegation!
The German Football League (DFL) introduced this format to the 2008/09 season after it had previously exposed it for 17 years. Since then, the first division club has won in 13 out of 16 games. Sporty fairness looks different. But that is obviously not about.
It is no secret that the relegation was reintroduced for commercial reasons. Heribert Bruchhagen, who was sitting on the DFL board at the time, admitted in 2022 in one: “The main reason was to create more content for the various television providers.” At that time, the second division “growled” but was compensated with television funds.
Heidenheim against Elversberg – Gahn!
The “content” should deliver two village clubs this season. Heidenheim against Elversberg is the big showdown in German football. Gahn! With all the respect for the performance of the likeable clubs – this duel is anything but a magnet for spectators. We are already in the next problem: If there are no traditional clubs in the relegation, it loses attractiveness.
In general, the level is usually low and the nervousness is high. No wonder: every action, every wrong decision is more important than distributed over the season. That is not just.
First division teams pull themselves out of the loop in the relegation too often
Second division teams can play so well in the season – if they do not deliver in the relegation, everything was in vain. This does not correspond to the performance principle. Despite a bad season, first division teams can reward themselves by saving themselves at the last moment. Fear, tremble, tears – and in the end the club usually cheers with the larger budget.
Associations such as TSG Hoffenheim (2013), Hamburger SV (2015, 2016) and VfL Wolfsburg (2017, 2018) used the relegation too often in the past to save their own A **** after miserable achievements in the league. Like the lazy student who holds an alibi department shortly before the end of the school year so as not to stay.
Other countries, different modes
In other countries, bad first division teams don’t get away so easily. For example, the last three teams in the English Premier League descend – without relegation. Two promoters come up directly from the second division, places 3 to 6 games in playoffs the third promoted.
To do this, however, the Bundesliga would have to be increased to 20 teams. Clubs have regularly removed such suggestions in recent years. On the one hand because of the higher stress due to more games, on the other hand for fear of lower income. Because the TV money would then have to be distributed over more teams. 20 teams have long been standard in some European leagues, such as in England, Spain and Italy.
For the time being, everything will stay the same. The Bundesliga clubs and the DFL insist on their positions – after all, the first division teams benefit from the status quo. And as you know, you don’t have any changes in Germany. Courage to reform for more fairness? None.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
