DFB redefines promotion to the Third League

Bundesliga

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The champions of the Regionalligen southwest and west rise in the future directly, two further climbers are determined between the seasons North, northeast and Bavaria. The participants of the Bundestag of the German Football Association (DFB) have agreed on this new regulation for promotion to the third league. The agreement was preceded by a month-long dispute.

Much had suggested in recent months that above all the associations North, Northeast and Bavaria, which have significantly fewer members than the Southwest and West, have to find a way to determine three climbers from two champions. In the future, a champion from these three squadrons will rise in an annual rotating system directly, the fourth starting position for the third league will be played in promotion play-offs.

Solution could be short-lived

The regulation applies from the 2020/2021 season and follows a two-year transitional solution. In the past season there were two direct climbers from the Regionalliga Nordost (Chemnitzer FC) and Regionalliga West (FC Viktoria Köln). FC Bayern II (Bayern) also prevailed in the play-offs against VfL Wolfsburg II (North). The southwest, as in the current season also, a solid climber. At the end of this season, the winners of the Northeast and West teams will compete against each other, the North and Bavaria have a direct promotion space.

"With the now available variant, which is supported by all, we have found, I think, a very reasonable solution," said DFB Vice President Rainer Koch, but sees in the future room for new reforms: "Whether we in three years one changed situation and other possibilities or a revaluation result from it - that can not be seriously predicted today. " The 60-year-old, who, as president of the Bavarian Football Association, had previously made a strong contribution to the discussion, continued: "Of all the bad solutions, I believe that is by far the best."