The New Fussball Bundesliga Relegation System
Understanding German Football League Relegation and Promotion
Jun 4, 2009
Understanding the German Bundesliga ranking system is complex enough, and now a new rule has come into effect with the 2008-09 season that has changed the promotion and relegation of soccer teams between the First and Second Bundesliga. No wonder then that this year’s German football league table caused some confusion.
The New Bundesliga Relegation and Promotion System
Eighteen football teams each in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga compete each season for the championship title. The new relegation rule benefits the third weakest Bundesliga team that is not relegated automatically any more but gets a chance to remain in the Bundesliga. The third strongest 2. Bundesliga team, on the other hand, has to fight for its Bundesliga spot. Here is what happens in detail under the new system:
- The last two teams of the Bundesliga are automatically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.
- The top two teams of the 2. Bundesliga are promoted to the Bundesliga, where they take up the last two spots.
- The third last Bundesliga team will play against the third best team of the 2. Bundesliga in two legs.
- If the winner is the 2. Bundesliga team, it will be promoted to the last spot of the Bundesliga.
- If the winner is the Bundesliga team, it will retain its spot in the Bundesliga.
Benefits of Bundesliga Status
In previous years, the last three Bundesliga teams had been automatically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga and the top three 2. Bundesliga teams had automatically taken their spots in the Bundesliga.
Playing in the First Bundesliga means playing in the top division and therefore stands for significant benefits like the following:
- greater fan support and therefore greater attendance at games, resulting in higher gate revenue through tickets sales,
- a larger share of TV broadcast license revenue for the team,
- hence more lucrative sponsorships,
- stronger team branding and marketing,
- the ability to invest in first-class stadium facilities,
- the attraction of skilled domestic and international players.
Overview of the German Bundesliga Structure
The 1. and 2. Bundesliga are the only two Bundesliga divisions. There is a third division called 3. Liga, also a professional league, which is run by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fussball Bund; DFB) and not by the German Football Leage (Deutsche Fussball Liga; DFL) like the two Bundesligen.
Below the Third Liga level are regional leagues (Regionalligen), divided by geographical areas, the German federal states or large city regions.
See also: Fussball Bundesliga Team Names and Abbreviations ; Essential German Soccer Terms for those who would like to watch Bundesliga games in German.
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