Reform in the Bundesliga?
New idea for more excitement - "Elegant solution"
Created: 05/05/2022, 11:58 am
By: Mick Oberbusch
The league can also become exciting again away from the permanent champion FC Bayern Munich: A reform idea from digital expert Sven Schmidt shows how this works.
Cologne – The 33rd of a total of 34 match days in the Bundesliga is approaching, and the “hot phase” is actually about to start now at the latest.
But it hasn't really been about much for weeks.
FC Bayern Munich is once again the champion, the relegation is clear so far, in the middle of the table nothing goes up and down for the teams.
Only fans of the few clubs that are fighting for international business or want to avoid relegation are still really spellbound at what is happening on the soccer fields of the republic.
Bundesliga: Playoffs for European ranks and relegation
A scenario that is not only boring for many fans, but which has occurred regularly in recent years - but could soon be a thing of the past.
At least when it comes to Sven Schmidt.
Born in Düsseldorf, the 47-year-old is not only a die-hard Fortuna fan, but also the managing director of "Maschinensucher", the largest sponsor of the second division in Germany.
And he has a suggestion that will keep both the first and second Bundesliga exciting until the final whistle on matchday 34 – for (almost) all teams.
How will the Bundesliga get exciting again?
Sven Schmidt wants to introduce playoffs for the Champions League
The idea:
There should be small "playoff" tournaments between four in each case for fourth place in the Bundesliga table, which entitles you to participate in the Champions League qualification, as well as for place 16 and third place in the second division (currently relegation). give teams.
Example 1:
After the end of the Bundesliga season, i.e. when all 34 games have been played, the fourth-placed player in the final table plays the seventh-placed player, and the fifth-placed player plays the sixth-placed player.
The winners of these two “semi-finals” then play out fourth place in the Champions League in a real final.
Example 2:
Same principle for the relegation that Schmidt would abolish.
The 13th in the final table plays against the 16th, the 14th against the club in 15th place. The winners of these games are allowed to stay in the Bundesliga.
The two losers are playing a relegation final, so to speak, the loser of this duel would have to be in the second division.
If Schmidt's suggestions are implemented, at the end of the season the excitement would only be gone for the teams in first, second, 17th and 18th place - and not, as is currently the case, for more than half of all Bundesliga clubs.
IPPEN.MEDIA spoke
to Sven Schmidt about his idea.
Mr Schmidt, why does the Bundesliga urgently need reform?
Sven Schmidt:
It is almost impossible to use capital to catch up the Bundesliga's gap to the Premier League (England) and La Liga (Spain).
Then 50+1 would have to fall and you would have to invest for a very long time.
That's why you have to make sure that if you don't get the product exciting at the top, at least every game is relevant.
And with the playoff scenarios there is, in my opinion, an elegant solution to make the competition more exciting across the board.
With your idea, a total of seven additional games would take place after the end of the season, including the 2nd Bundesliga. Aren't you pouring grist on the mill of the football romantics who complain about the commercialization in professional football?
Sven Schmidt:
First of all, it's about taking everyone involved, including traditionalists and football romantics, with you without hurting anyone.
The playoff idea doesn't have to be 50+1 either, it's more about making every game relevant again, even during the season, because you're already playing for a placement for possible playoff tournaments after the end of the season.
So it's not necessarily about more games, but about creating more relevance.
To do this, only nuances would have to be changed in the existing product in order to make it more exciting again.
What other changes would be good for the Bundesliga?
Sven Schmidt:
The Bundesliga has to change something in its presentation.
When I talk to young people, I notice that they are no longer as close to the action as I was when I was a child.
Nowadays, the Bundesliga also has much greater competition from social media, Netflix and the like.
The North American professional basketball league NBA and the American football league NFL show how it's done: there are interviews with coaches during halftime, players are wired, there are video recordings from the locker room.
The product simply has to be presented in a more emotional and exciting way.
Have you already received positive or negative feedback on your idea?
Sven Schmidt:
So far, the response to this idea has been consistently positive.
For example, I spoke to HSV sports director Jonas Boldt about it in "Doppelpass" (Sport1), and he also thought it was a great suggestion.
Playoffs for the championship have already been discussed, but the idea has not yet come up.
Sport1 editor-in-chief Pit Gottschalk was also impressed by the idea.
Because these playoffs, in contrast to elimination games for the championship, do not take anything away from anyone - they only generate opportunities.
"Machineseeker" Managing Director Sven Schmidt has a plan to make the Bundesliga exciting again (Montage).
© MIS/Imago & Maschinensucher.de
This is Sven Schmidt
Sven Schmidt, born in 1974, grew up and lives in Düsseldorf, is the managing director of Maschinensucher, a search engine for machines.
The company is the largest sponsor of the 2nd Bundesliga (eight clubs) in Germany and namesake the “Machineseeker Doppelpass 2nd Bundesliga” (Sport1).
He is known in the digital scene for his appearances on the OMR and Deutsche Startups podcasts, among other things.