The clubs history begins in February 1903 when 170 workers of Bayer signed a letter to the head of the company asking to found a company athletics team. In July 1904 they officially created Turn- und Spielverein 1904 der Farbenfabrik vormals Friedrich Bayer Co. Leverkusen.
Bayer owned the club from the very beginning and half a century before people even thought you could make money off of professional football. There is nothing plastic about that, just a traditional workers team with deep bonds to its “mother” Bayer. The first time they wore the iconic Bayer Cross on their jerseys was in 1936.
So what? It’s still a special exemption from the law, being grandfathered in doesn’t change that. “Technically, it’s legal” won’t win you any sympathy points.
And? It doesn’t matter how they were founded 100 years ago. Nowadays they are part of the Bayer AG and are one of three (soon to be two) clubs who are exempt from the 50+1 rule.
That makes no sense. The reason why they are exempt from the rule is because the club literally has the roots in the company that founded it ages ago. It absolutely does matter when and how they were founded. Otherwise they wouldnt be exempt.
RB is just shady. They are no works team. They are RasenBallsport Leipzig e.V., e.V. meaning “eigetragener Verein” - registered association. A “normal” club on paper.
No, they are seen as bad for the Bundesliga because they undermine 50+1 by being a works team for Bayer.
The Team existed as Bayer Leverkusen 100 years before 50+1 was a thing.
No reason for Bayer to take over the club then?
They didnt take over the club.
The clubs history begins in February 1903 when 170 workers of Bayer signed a letter to the head of the company asking to found a company athletics team. In July 1904 they officially created Turn- und Spielverein 1904 der Farbenfabrik vormals Friedrich Bayer Co. Leverkusen.
Bayer owned the club from the very beginning and half a century before people even thought you could make money off of professional football. There is nothing plastic about that, just a traditional workers team with deep bonds to its “mother” Bayer. The first time they wore the iconic Bayer Cross on their jerseys was in 1936.
So what? It’s still a special exemption from the law, being grandfathered in doesn’t change that. “Technically, it’s legal” won’t win you any sympathy points.
This.
And? It doesn’t matter how they were founded 100 years ago. Nowadays they are part of the Bayer AG and are one of three (soon to be two) clubs who are exempt from the 50+1 rule.
That makes no sense. The reason why they are exempt from the rule is because the club literally has the roots in the company that founded it ages ago. It absolutely does matter when and how they were founded. Otherwise they wouldnt be exempt.
Which one is the third club? As far as I know, it’s only Leverkusen and RB
Hoffenheim, Leverkusen, Wolfsburg.
RB is just shady. They are no works team. They are RasenBallsport Leipzig e.V., e.V. meaning “eigetragener Verein” - registered association. A “normal” club on paper.
RB is not legally exempt from the rule, they just get around it.
Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim. RB is not exempt from 50+1. They found a workaround