On 3 October, Germany celebrated 36 years of unity after the reunification of the FRG (West) and GDR (East). However, many people question whether unity has really been achieved. While we see clubs like Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund thrive, Union Berlin is the only former GDR club currently playing in the Bundesliga, and 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig missed its chance of promotion into the 3. Liga this summer. Has German unity reached football yet?
To understand the inner workings of German football, we have to go back more than 36 years. In the GDR, professional sport was used as a means to build a strong national identity. Clubs received their funding from state-owned companies and institutions. For these clubs, the unification meant adapting to the West’s free market. But when the companies that funded them collapsed, eastern teams struggled to generate their own profits. Many traditional teams crumbled and silently disappeared.
This led many Eastern talents to sign contracts with Western clubs that were able to pay them higher salaries. In the first five years after the fall of the Wall, about 150 players from the East left their home to play for a Western club. Many of the clubs that survived the financial crisis saw a gradual decline leading to relegations into lower leagues. However, it should be noted that the promotion system of the Regionalliga, Germany’s fourth tier, disadvantages not only the East. Only the champions of
Regionalliga West and Southwest are guaranteed direct promotion. From the East, North, and Bavaria only one champion goes up, rotating between the regions. The other two champions face each other in two playoff matches. This year, Lok Leipzig lost the playoffs against the Bavarian team Würzburger Kickers. This made promotion impossible, despite the fact that they won their league. Hence, the promotion issues cannot be reduced to a mere East-West struggle.
Yet, no matter how many issues the clubs faced, their fans have not left their side. Since the 2022/23 season, the team with the highest average home attendance in the 3. Liga has been an Eastern club, like Dynamo Dresden. Similar support can be seen from Union Berlin fans in the Bundesliga. Instead of accepting bankruptcy, they have shown their commitment over the years by offering their voluntary services in rebuilding the stadium or raising money for the club by donating their own blood.
The German Football Association continues to debate possible solutions. But Eastern clubs will keep fighting and playing. At the end of the day, there is one thing that money cannot buy: loyal fans.
“Azerbaijan vs Germany football match” by Ilgar Jafarov is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
