German football is known all over the world for its unique experience.

For many tourists, a visit to Germany would not be complete without attending a soccer game. Betting on soccer is also a must. Finding the best soccer betting site in new online casinos in Germany (also known as “Neue online casinos in Deutschland” in German language) is critical to ensure having the best experience, and to give yourself the best chance of making the big buck! Thanks to the way in which clubs are run and the close ties between the fans and their teams, it is a unique sporting experience. The 50 + 1 rule means that the clubs are run by their fans, while at the same time ensuring that ticket prices are kept relatively low to make every game affordable. Including the games against the biggest Bundesliga clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The fans are noisy on and off the pitch and their demonstrations, protests and dialogue with governments and associations have brought about changes inside and outside the stadiums in Germany.

How the 50 + 1 rule affects German football

In 1998, German football introduced the 50 + 1 rule to keep the clubs in the control of their fans and thus prevent corporations or wealthy individuals from taking over the teams and treating them like profitable companies. Essentially, it is an abbreviation for a clause in the regulations of the German Football League (DFL), which states that clubs are not allowed to participate in the Bundesliga if commercial investors hold more than 49 percent of the shares. So this means that the members of a club - the fans - will always keep the majority of the shares.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as teams that were formed before 1998 and that were founded by employees of certain companies, such as Wolfsburg (Volkswagen) and Bayer Leverkusen (Bayer AG), while RB Leipzig has bypassed the law, by having a very small number of active members who are all Red Bull employees. The protection of the 50 + 1 rule is of the utmost importance for German football fans. In fact, it is an amalgamation of fan groups from clubs across Germany and one of their main priorities is maintaining the clause. The interests of the fans should be protected at all costs and maintaining the 50 + 1 rule in German football is the best way to protect the teams from the commercialization that has affected other countries.

Affordable tickets and safe standing in the stands.

Standing places are allowed in the Bundesliga and there are over 25,000 standing places on the south stand of Borussia Dortmund, which form the famous "Yellow Wall". Another key difference is that fans in Germany are allowed to drink alcohol within sight of the pitch. They can buy their beers and bring them to their seats or in safe standing areas.

Protests and actions pointing out social issues

Due to the influence of the fans on the running of the clubs, the teams in Germany often have a greater influence on their local community. Fan groups have worked closely with the clubs to develop official guidelines against social issues such as racism, misogyny, homophobia and fascism. Fan groups not only help define the club's official policy, but also often display banners during games to highlight social injustices. Progress can be slow, but fan displays and club policies have helped stamp out issues like fascist displays at games.

Fans against modern football

While the 50 + 1 rule keeps the majority of clubs down, the impact of television revenue is evident in the multi-million dollar transfer fees and salaries paid to the players at the top of the pyramid. The influence of the television companies meant that some Bundesliga games took place behind closed doors at the beginning of the current crisis. Everything that is important in football takes place in the stadium. And football is nothing without fans in the stadium.