Regionalliga (football)

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This article describes the men's football regional league in Germany. For the league of the same name in Austria, see: Austrian Regionalliga (football)

The Fußball-Regionalliga (regional league) is the name of the 3rd division football league in Germany. After the introduction of the 3rd Bundesliga in 2008 it will be the 4th division. In women's football it was, up to the 2003/4 season, the second highest league, the 2nd Bundesliga only being introduced in the 2004/5 season.

1 Overview
2 League rules
3 League set-up
4 Teams competing in the 2006/7 season
5 External links

[edit] Overview

From 1963 until 1974, the five Regionalliga conferences (west, south, north, southwest, Berlin) formed the second-highest division in Germany. After 1974, a two-conference (2nd Bundesliga) was formed and the Regionalliga as such was abolished. Instead each federation's league comprised the third-highest league then. In 1978 seven Oberligen that transcended the federation's borders were created in addition to the already existing Oberliga Nord.

The modern Regionalliga was created in 1994 and replaced the Amateur-Oberligen as the third-highest league. The Amateur-Oberligen were kept as part of the pyramid, but now comprised the fourth level. At first, the Regionalliga had four divisions: North, Northeast, West/Southwest and South. Since the 2000/01 season, there are only two divisions: North and South. After the introduction of the 3rd Bundesliga the Regionalliga will have three divisions.

Generally, the winner and runner-up of the two divisions are promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga, but the B-teams of clubs in the first two divisions are not allowed to be promoted. After the introduction of the 3rd Bundesliga the Regionalliga will have three divisions.

Between 1994 and 2000 promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga was regulated without much continuity. It was a problematic rule as becoming champion of a division did not automatically mean promotion. The champions of the South and West/Southwest divisions were automatically promoted. In addition one of the two runners-up from these divisions was promoted. The champions of the North and Northeast divisions had a play-off to decide who would get the fourth promotion spot. This rule was justified with the much larger number of clubs in the Southern part of Germany compared to the Northern part. In 1998 the promotion mode was changed again. From then on, the winner of the play-off between the North and Northeast division champions was promoted, while the loser faced the runners-up from the West/Southwest and South divisions in another play-off for the remaining promotion spot.

[edit] League rules

Matchday squads in the Regionalliga must include at least six players of German nationality and under the age of 24, two under the age of 21, and a maximum of three non-EU players.

[edit] League set-up

[edit] Licensing

A club that wishes to have a team play in the Regionalliga must meet two conditions. First, the team must qualify for the league. Second, the club must obtain a license from the DFB. This license is granted if the club can prove that they are financially sound, that their stadium conforms to the security regulations and also that they have a working youth section.

[edit] Promotion

The champion and the runner-up of each division are promoted to 2nd Bundesliga at the end of the season. An exception is made, if among these is a B-team of a club that is already playing in 1st or 2nd Bundesliga. In this case, the third or even the fourth of the division is promoted. Starting from the season 2008/9 the champion of each division will be promoted to the new introduced 3rd Bundesliga.

[edit] Relegation

The two Regionalliga divisions (North and South) consist of 18 teams each. The bottom four teams at the end of each season are relegated to their respective Oberligen.

However, as teams are allocated to the Regionalliga divisions by their geographical location, it is possible for one division to have up to 20 teams. If that is the case, the number of relegation spots is increased by the number of additional spots, so that the division is reduced to 18 at the end of the season. If for example three of the relegated teams from 2nd Bundesliga are allocated to Regionalliga Nord, the division would play with 19 teams and the number of relegation spots increased to five.

As clubs in the Regionalliga must have their teams licensed by the DFB on a per-season basis, a team may also be relegated by having its license revoked. Teams are also relegated when their club files for bankruptcy.

B-teams are also relegated when the respective A-team is relegated to the Regionalliga.