Introduction

While Third Party Ownership (TPO) is usually linked with the engagement of third parties in players/economic rights of players, German Football does not provide restrictions on holding or obtaining those rights -apart from FIFA Regulations, that are of course binding in Germany as well. However it has a quite unique peculiarity in terms of restrictions on holding and obtaining rights in clubs.

Clubs that are organized in the legal form of an association (contrary to a company such as a Ltd., corporation etc.) are by virtue not open for investments and/or shareholders. Associations are run by their boards, but all essential decisions are reserved to the members’ assembly, which may be composed of tens of thousands of people -this of course makes it difficult, if not to say impossible, to reasonably run a football club. Beneath that reason, the number of pure associations in German Football is...

Why not join us?

Football Legal is an independent media publishing football law contents on a daily basis dedicated to all football law practitioners (lawyers, clubs, federations, intermediaries, football stakeholders, etc.).

Register today and stay tuned to the latest legal news.

Get started