There Is A Proposal For A Radical Change To The Bundesliga Format To Stop Bayern Munich's Dominance
JAKARTA - Several teams have tried hard to end Bayern Munich's dominance in the Bundesliga. However, neither team has managed to compete effectively for the title since the 2012/13 season.
Rewind to May, the Bavarians won their ninth consecutive Bundesliga title. And every year it seems that this Munich-based team is unstoppable in the domestic league. Teams like Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen have lost the last few games over the years.
There are some suggestions from German football leaders about changing the format to make the Bundesliga more attractive and competitive. One of them, from the former CEO of Bayer Leverkusen and president of the Bundesliga Wolfgang Holzhauser.
They proposed changing the format to make the German top flight more attractive to fans.
Holzhauser's radical ideasThe 71-year-old suggested that the regular Bundesliga season should remain as it was and when the season ended, the top four teams should participate in the playoffs to determine the champions.
"The top four teams will play in the semifinals against each other after the regular Bundesliga season (ends)," Holzhauser told Spox.
"The leader of the standings (will play) against the fourth-placed (team) and the second-placed against the third-placed. The winners will play in the final and those who lose (will play) the match for third and fourth place.
"This format will appeal to the fans. It is impossible in the minds of the fans that everything is decided in October. You can't solve this problem financially, but you can do it in a sporting way. Still, it will also have financial benefits. "
What about the big Bundesliga teams?Holzhauser admits that an elite Bundesliga club like Bayern Munich may disagree with his idea, but he believes that a change of format will benefit all clubs both financially and sportingly.
"(The big Bundesliga teams) won't agree, but you can always argue," Holzhauser said.
"It's not about taking anything from Bayern for example. You have to generate new income and redistribute it. A declining payout method would also be good, so the team in the bottom position gets more and the fifth, less.
"Football and its supporters are generally conservative and less open to new things. Of course there will be years where Bayern are weak or have bad luck with injuries. Hopefully other teams can take advantage of it, like Dortmund this year."