German soccer fans legally own most of their teams
While billionaire owners dominate most global leagues, Germany mandates that fans retain the majority of voting rights, keeping ticket prices lower than a night at the cinema.
In the German Bundesliga, a unique legal requirement known as the 50+1 rule ensures that club members—the fans themselves—hold a majority of the voting rights. This structure prevents outside investors from seizing total control and prioritizes community over profit. At Bayern Munich, a massive assembly of 54,000 voting fans oversees the club's direction, a stark contrast to the state-funded models of teams like Paris Saint-Germain. This democratic ownership is why a season ticket in Germany often costs less than a single match in London, with some seats capped at just fifty-five euros.
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