The next Bundesliga reform? “Hope for quick results”

Is Austria due for the next league reform?

At least the question is in the room. An evaluation is currently underway in conjunction with the Austrian regional leagues to provide information on the extent to which Austria’s top four performance levels may change in the future.

Bundesliga board member Christian Ebenbauer confirmed this in a chat with “90 minutes“. Actually, the assessment is for the Bundesliga and 2. Liga completed, but the regional and state leagues may now cause a rethink.

“At the end of May, a working group for the third and fourth performance levels was established by the ÖFB,” Ebenbauer said. “So we had to postpone our decision and hope for quick results. “

ÖFB wakes up too late – “We lost a year”

The ÖFB first failed when it came to evaluating a change in the league system.

“Last year, before we started the evaluation, we asked the regional associations, the ÖFB, that we should also evaluate the third or fourth level of performance. That was rejected at the time.” The reason? “There’s no need for it right now.”

“Obviously it’s a bit inconvenient because we’ve lost a year, but better late than never. It’s important that we do that before the offer is announced. Television rightswhich is planned for the beginning of 2025, we know what will happen from 2026/27,” explained the Bundesliga board.

Bundesliga with 16 teams? That’s what Ebenbauer says

Ebenbauer still believes that the number of Bundesliga clubs is unlikely to change: “We assume that around 15 or 16 clubs in Austria have the potential to play in the top league. That’s with promotion and relegation, at least not enough to think about. 16-a-side league.”

“We have made progress in terms of infrastructure with great new stadiums, but if you always look at the weakest link, where it is in terms of infrastructure and economics, then the density of sport and the level of happiness in the 12-a-side area. the league is much higher than in the 16-a-side league -League.

However, further changes in other leagues cannot be ruled out. We’ll see what the assessment brings.

You can read the entire interview with Christian Ebenbauer at “90minuten” >>>

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