Uli Hoeness, former Bayern Munich chairman, stated on the OMR podcast on 25/11 that "in any other country, Barca would be excluded from the national championship". He questioned how a club with 1.5 billion USD in debt can operate, calling their continued presence in La Liga "absurd and incomprehensible, like a miracle". Hoeness added, "That is a club model I will never respect".

Hoeness highlighted that Barca has consistently overspent without consequence, a practice he believes distorts sporting values. He contrasted this sharply with the approach of Bayern and German football.

Hoeness (left) celebrates the 2019-2020 Champions League title with Robert Lewandowski, who later moved to Barca. AS

Hoeness (left) celebrates the 2019-2020 Champions League title with Robert Lewandowski, who later moved to Barca. AS

Barca currently holds the unenviable title of the world's most indebted football club. Their financial struggles stem from lavish spending during former President Josep Bartomeu's tenure and the lasting impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Costly transfers for players like Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho, and Antoine Griezmann, each valued at hundreds of millions of USD, ultimately led to significant financial losses.

For years, La Liga organizers have imposed strict oversight on Barca's wage budget and transfer market activities. For the summer 2025 transfer window, the reigning La Liga champions are restricted to a mere 30 million USD for new signings, specifically targeting Joan Garcia and Roony Bardghji.

In stark contrast to Barca's financial woes, other top European clubs demonstrate robust spending power. Last summer, Liverpool notably invested over half a billion USD in seven new players. Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, and Man Utd each spent approximately 300 million USD.

Bayern Munich stands out among financially stable clubs for its prudent spending. For the summer 2025 window, the German club allocated 100 million USD for Luis Diaz and a loan deal for Nicolas Jackson. Defender Jonathan Tah also joined from Leverkusen on a free transfer. This "cut your coat according to your cloth" strategy is consistently validated by their on-field success, with 17 wins and one draw in their initial 18 matches.

Hoeness further elaborated, "At Bayern, we pride ourselves on sustainable management, sound economic judgment, and sporting quality that does not depend on financial tricks." He asserted that "if they played in the Bundesliga, Barca would have no future. Germany's strict regulations and audit pressure would immediately cripple a club with 1.5 billion USD in debt."

The German Football Federation (DFB) enforces the "50+1 rule" for all Bundesliga clubs. This regulation mandates that club members, typically card-holding fans, must collectively own a minimum of 51% of the team's shares. Consequently, no single individual can hold more than 49% ownership in a German football club. The only two exceptions are VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, both founded by their respective corporate entities, Volkswagen and Bayer.

This ownership structure makes it impossible for foreign owners to fully control a German club. Furthermore, at the end of each season, clubs must satisfy rigorous financial criteria set by the DFB to qualify for the next Bundesliga season, with particular emphasis on financial solvency and debt levels.

These regulations form a crucial legal framework, ensuring the Bundesliga's sustainable development. They also contribute to the German league's reputation as one of the most financially stable in global football.

Thanh Quy (according to OMR)