Overview
- DFB president Bernd Neuendorf circulated the Kompass proposal on Thursday that would replace five Regionalligen with four 20‑team divisions and make the DFB the league organiser.
- The draft calls for annual, AI‑guided geographic assignment of clubs, a guaranteed four‑year payment package of €500,000 per regional association and €40,000 per club, and excludes reserve teams from club payments.
- Neuendorf will present the plan with 3. Liga CEO Manuel Hartmann at a meeting of regional and state presidents on Monday, the DFB presidency will review it soon after, and an extraordinary Bundestag will vote on December 18.
- Strong opposition has emerged from southern associations, led by Bavaria’s president who favors expanding the 3. Liga to 22 teams as an alternative, while 3. Liga officials reject that counterproposal.
- Officials warn the AI allocation could separate local derbies and create travel and sporting‑integrity issues, staff must be protected from job loss under the plan, and recent regional leadership changes have increased political tension ahead of the vote.