Germany: 2.Bundesliga considering a solidarity fund for clubs relegated to the third division

The 18 clubs of the 2.Bundesliga (German second division) are in favour of the establishment of a financial support fund for clubs relegated to the 3.Liga (German third division), on 02/12/2014. Each club would pay between €60,000 and €80,000 from its audiovisual income to support the fund, which would amount to between €1.1m and €1.4m, to be divided between the two clubs (and possibly three clubs, due to German football's promotion-relegation play-off) relegated to the 3.Liga which is also a professional league.

"The 2.Bundesliga proposed, to the Executive Committee of the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga, the German Professional Football League), the creation of a relief fund. The idea will be debated because relegation often means financial collapse for the clubs," said Harald Strutz, vice-president of the DFL in charge of the 2.Bundesliga, to Sport Bild magazine, 02/12/2014.

The idea has yet to be accepted by the DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund, the German Football Association), which manages the 3.Liga. "This is a sensitive issue which must be resolved politically with the DFB. Otherwise…