DFL Economic Report 23-24

The image shows an outdoor scene centered on a large sports arena with multiple rows of bicycles parked outside. In front of the building, there's a pedestrian sidewalk where people are walking. Overhead, there is some infrastructure which could be part of public transportation or event facilities. It appears to be daytime and the weather looks clear. The surroundings suggest that this might be a special event or gathering for bicyclists, as indicated by the large number of bikes parked in orderly rows.

German licensed football

Sustainability

Sustainability in and through German professional football

Since the 2023-24 season, to which the current Economic Report refers, sustainability guidelines have been an integral part of the licensing process in German professional football. At the DFL General Assembly in December 2023, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs decided to adjust this guideline in order to incorporate the initial learnings and to strengthen key areas in which action can be taken. The proposal for amendments to the licensing for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons were drawn up together with the Sustainability Commission, which comprises representatives from ten clubs who discuss sustainability issues in depth and advise the DFL Executive Committee on this topic.

As a first step, the sustainability criteria for licensing for the 2024-25 season were further strengthened and defined in more detail. In the interests of consistency, overlaps with regulations of other licensing criteria have been harmonised and adapted to other aspects of the DFL licensing process. In addition, thematically related criteria will be bundled together within the sustainability guidelines so that unnecessary duplication can be avoided, and the number of criteria can be reduced without compromising on the content of the requirements. Certain criteria are listed as B criteria as defined by the licensing regulations; failure to meet these criteria will result in sanctions. The number of such criteria will be gradually increased to ensure that the clubs are committed to consistently raising their level of ambition. This also gives all clubs the opportunity and obligation to continuously develop and expand their structures with a focus on the future.

Pioneer

The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 became the first major professional football leagues to anchor mandatory sustainability guidelines in their licensing regulations.

Commitment to sustainability in the DFL statutes as early as 2021

At the DFL General Assembly in December 2021, German professional football had already incorporated a clear commitment to sustainability in all its various aspects – ecological, economic and social – and included this in the preamble to DFL e.V. statutes. On this basis, in May 2022, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 became the first major professional football leagues to anchor mandatory sustainability guidelines in their licensing regulations. However, the work for greater sustainability goes beyond checking and granting eligibility to participate in the top German leagues.

The image depicts an indoor setting, possibly a conference or a large meeting. There is a stage with a podium and speakers at it facing towards the camera's perspective. In front of the stage, there's a large audience seated with laptops open on their laps, suggesting they are taking notes or using technology for work or learning purposes. The attendees are diverse, including individuals sitting in chairs that are arranged in rows. There is a backdrop displaying an image of what appears to be greenery and a person on the left who is giving a presentation or speaking at the event. The room has a modern look with a blend of decorative elements alongside functional ones, such as lighting fixtures, which are mounted on the ceiling. The overall atmosphere suggests a professional setting meant for communication and information exchange between attendees.
More than 230 guests gathered at the Futurium in Berlin for the DFL Sustainability Forum.

Credits: DFL/Witters/Frank Peters

Exchange, networking and further training

In order to further develop the commitment and continuously increase its impact, those responsible for German professional football are networking with each other and beyond. In November 2024, around 160 participants met at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt for the first Sustainability Day organised jointly by the DFL and DFB. The day, which was attended by representatives from professional and amateur clubs, was all about learning from each other. Key sustainability topics were covered in workshops, such as sustainability management, energy and resource management, child and youth protection, prevention and health as well as anti-discrimination and diversity.

Another important event is the DFL Sustainability Forum. Here, stakeholders from politics, business, science, society and sport as well as club representatives from Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 exchange views on the topic of sustainability in and through football. The last event in September 2023 was held under the motto; “Shaping the future”; and provided impetus for German football’s approach to topics such as mobility, the circular economy, economic performance and diversity.

DFL supports Leuphana University and UN initiative “Football for the Goals”;

The DFL supports future sustainability experts through its cooperation with the online class “Sustainability Management in Sport and Sports Organisations” at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg. As co-organiser of a further education programme on the development of diversity and inclusion in football, the DFL enables people working in associations and clubs to expand their expertise in the area of sustainability.

As a member of the United Nations’ “Football for the Goals” initiative, the DFL is committed to actively working towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs are global goals for sustainable development that have already been taken into account in the DFL’s sustainability guidelines.

The DFL intends to further expand all these networks and partnerships to facilitate even more sustainable development. In the spirit of continuous further development and to enable the clubs to make the necessary preparations, the sustainability guidelines for the 2025-26 season have already been adopted. For the first time, all clubs will then have to provide independent proof that they comprehensively fulfil the sustainability criteria within the scope of the licensing process. This replaces the self-disclosure that was previously sufficient for some criteria. Consistent proof that all criteria have been met must be provided by 15 March, or by 1 March for candidates from the 3. Liga.

Related links

The image you've shared shows two different scenes. On the left, there is a black and white photo of a crowded sports arena with people walking around outside the stadium, and there are teams' logos visible on banners and clothing. It appears to be an event where fans have gathered, possibly before or after a match. On the right, the image also from a sports event but in color, features a person in a wheelchair, who is part of a crowd outside the stadium, indicating that the venue is accessible to individuals with mobility impairments for such events. The two images combined might represent inclusion and accessibility within a sports context, where people can attend events regardless of their physical abilities.

Responsibility

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This is an image of a soccer ball with various signatures on it, as if signed by several prominent people. In the background, there appears to be a stadium setting with spectators, and you can see part of a banner with text that suggests some kind of affiliation or support for a team or an event related to soccer. The soccer ball is on display, possibly in recognition of those signatures as part of a celebration of a successful club, organization, or player, given the presence of a person who could be associated with the sport and the event.

Responsibility

TOGETHER!

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