DFB pushes for decision on Regionalliga reform despite fan protest
Lok Leipzig fans are protesting with a banner “Champions must be promoted”, because the current promotion rule in the Regionalliga is causing discontent, while the German Football Association announced on Friday an extraordinary Bundestag on December 18 to decide on the Compass model.
POINT/ Sven Sonntag emphasizes that for years the promotion rule in the Regionalligas has generated discontent among fans and clubs. With the banner the supporters of Lok Leipzig display a banner reading “Champions must be promoted” to highlight their dissatisfaction with the current rule. Because not all champions are automatically promoted, which fuels the criticism.
The German Football Association (DFB) presented its plans for a Regionalliga reform on Friday and set a decision for an extraordinary Bundestag meeting on December 18. In a statement that can be listened to, noted and shared via the official app, it is explained that DFB Secretary General Holger Blask is leading the preparation. The information is available for download, so interested parties can also print it and use it actively rather than give it away.
Four Regionalliga divisions instead of five
The Compass model proposes to reduce the current five Regionalliga divisions to four. The redistribution should be based on geographic criteria to ensure a balanced regional allocation and preserve existing derbies. Each league would consist of twenty teams.
Automatic promotion for all champions
According to the model, in the future all Regionalliga champions will have the opportunity to be promoted to the 3. Liga. Currently only the champions of the West and Southwest Regionalliga have an automatic promotion right. The title holders from North, Northeast and Bavaria would receive a direct promotion through a rotation system, while the other two champions would battle in a two‑legged tie for the fourth promotion spot.
Summary of the voting results and failed reform attempt
At the end of June a reform attempt failed, with 60.9 percent in the West, 61.5 percent in the North and 76.3 percent in the Northeast of club officials favoring the Compass model. In the Southwest 93.1 percent voted for the regional model, while in Bavaria 52.4 percent supported new models. The DFB, however, points to a nationwide majority of 50.6 percent for the Compass model.
Additionally the DFB announced that in the future police costs for high‑risk matches will be passed on at least partially to the respective home club. President Bernd Neuendorf explained that the association, due to its fiduciary duty, is obliged to forward the costs as soon as it receives fee notices.
According to the DFB, the 2027/2028 season will be used as a qualification season for the new structure, while the implementation of the four‑track system is scheduled for the 2028/2029 season. This is intended to create a clear transition period in which clubs can adjust their geographic allocation.
The contrast between the vocal discontent of the Lok Leipzig fans and the DFB's structural solutions highlights that the promotion rule must be resolved now to ensure both sporting fairness and a stable league structure.