Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V. founded | OneFootball

The 14 top-tier clubs in German women’s football have organised themselves collectively for the first time and established the Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V.

With the founding ceremony on 10 December in Frankfurt am Main, the clubs of the Women’s Bundesliga have set a milestone for the development of women’s football.

The Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt am Main provided the stage on Wednesday as 1. FC Union Berlin, SV Werder Bremen, SGS Essen, Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg, Hamburger SV, TSG Hoffenheim, Carl Zeiss Jena, 1. FC Köln, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Bayern Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg and VfL Wolfsburg came together to found the Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V.

In doing so, the clubs have set a milestone following a unique process in German women’s football. The collective organisation of the first division clubs signals a joint decision to actively shape the future of German women’s football in a sustainable manner, to develop potential and to professionalise it as much as possible through significant investments. 

In accordance with the adopted statutes, the newly founded Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V. has elected a three-member executive committee headed by its new president, Katharina Kiel (Eintracht Frankfurt). The executive committee, which will represent the interests of the club association, is completed by first vice-president Veronica Saß (Bayern Munich) and second vice-president Florian Zeutschler (SGS Essen). With its founding, the league association and its executive committee will begin their work in their new capacity and continue the process they have initiated for the future of the Women’s Bundesliga.

Katharina Kiel, president of the Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V., said: “Today marks a historic moment for German women’s football. For the first time, all top-division clubs are joining forces and pooling their interests within a league association. For us, this represents a provisional high point in a process that we, as clubs, began together approximately 18 months ago. However, this founding is not the end but rather the beginning of a strong, visible and independent league. This act of unity by all 14 top-flight clubs is a sign of solidarity, responsibility, and a new beginning. We are deeply committed to advancing women’s football together - making it more professional and more sustainable. We will conduct our discussions with the German Football Association with an open mind in this context. We will always make our decisions with a view to having a sustainable league in which the clubs play a decisive role. I also want to actively shape that future in my role as president of the Women’s Bundesliga FBL e.V., a role that is a great honour and one that comes with personal responsibility. My thanks go to the clubs who have placed their trust and confidence in me, and whose unity and cohesion should remain one of - if not the - greatest strengths of our league moving forward.”