Three ways how the German football landscape takes part in MCO, despite the 50+1 rule ⚽💡
Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) has become an everyday term in football business. City Football Group, Red Bull, and 777 Partners have been joined by other big players like RedBird Capital Partners Capital (AC Milan, Toulouse), 𝗩 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 (Aston Villa, Vitoria de Guimaraes), and newly formed Red&Gold Football (FC Bayern, LAFC) that stir up international news on football club ownership.
But Germany and its iconic 50+1 rule notably prevents majority control in clubs of outside entities and investors, in the best interest of the fans.
So, are German clubs just left out completely or how do they take part in modern football club network building?
1️⃣ Giving investors minority or majority ownership following the 50+1 rule
777 Partners hold a majority capital stake in Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA (78,8%), but with only 2/5 seats in the supervisory board, the original association (3/5 seats) still has the voting rights majority and controls the club.
Another example is David Blitzer and the Bolt Football Holdings owning a 45% stake in FC Augsburg 1907 with the according voting rights and thus merely taking an advisory role.
2️⃣ Establishing cooperations or partnerships
VfL Wolfsburg has chosen this option to partner with MLS side Orlando City SC regarding talent development, infrastructure, and marketing topics. Since 2021, the Austrian 2nd division side SKN St. Pölten has taken an additional development team role for Wolfsburg.
3️⃣ Becoming an investor yourself
FC Bayern München Bayern decided to choose this role when they founded Red&Gold Football in collaboration with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). Together with the former MLS champions, Bayern Munich aims to build a global network of teams to identify and promote young talents. Racing Club de Montevideo is the first club in South America now owned by Red&Gold, which is registered at Säbener Str. In Munich – Bayern Munich’s headquarters.
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