DFB to take next step for separation from women's Bundesliga

The German Football Federation (DFB) will convene an extraordinary DFB congress on September 18 to transfer the responsibility of the women's Bundesliga to the newly-founded women's league FBL.

During the congress, the DFB will make the necessary amendments to the bylaws and approve the contractual framework for the transfer, the federation said in a statement on Thursday.

FBL e.V. was founded at the end of last year as an independent body from the federation, just like the men's Bundesliga Group, which runs the Bundesliga and second tier.

The FBL aims to professionalize the structures in the Bundesliga and fully administer the women's top-tier league from July 1, 2027.

The DFB and the FBL reached a basic framework agreement on governing financial flows in May.

The so-called lease agreement that has been negotiated must now be formally approved during the congress. Once that happens, the FBL will be able to tender the women's Bundesliga broadcasting rights and conclude contracts on its own.

This is considered a key step toward the goal of developing the league and increasing its visibility.

"With the agreement on the lease contract, the DFB and the FBL have taken a decisive step toward the future of the women's Bundesliga. Both sides have worked intensively over the past few months to create a solid foundation for the new structure," DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said.

"We are confident that, on this basis, the league can continue its positive development and further enhance its athletic and economic appeal. It is now up to the DFB congress to approve the necessary resolutions."