WHAT ATTENTION DO AMATEURS ATTRACT? Fussball.de is undoubtedly the hub of amateur football. Last year, it recorded over 300 million visitors and nearly 4.5 billion clicks, a remarkable achievement that highlights the significant interest in amateur football. Additionally, in 2016, the site was recognized as the most popular “Sport” website of the year. Fussball.de serves as the online guide to amateur football, featuring an app and active social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) dedicated solely to events within the vast community of amateur players—from local leagues to regional competitions and from youth teams to veterans. The DFB’s campaign “Our amateurs are real professionals” plays a crucial role in promoting club football and recognizing the efforts of the volunteers who support local teams. This initiative seeks to honor the 1.7 million volunteers, allowing them to gain recognition and appreciation. The project showcases the social impact of amateur football, addressing issues such as integration, fair play, and values. Special events like the “Last Day of Amateurs” also help draw attention to amateur football across the nation.
HOW MUCH DOES THE DFB INVEST IN AMATEUR FOOTBALL? The DFB and its regional associations allocate approximately 120 million euros annually to amateur football, adhering to regulations that permit direct support mainly in the form of services for member associations. Additionally, around 39.5 million euros are collected from amateur clubs through fees, service charges, or fines, which are directed to state associations and municipal districts. Consequently, amateur clubs contribute about 30 percent to the budgets of the 21 federal states and five regional associations. The net annual budget for non-profit football associations stands at around 80.5 million euros, illustrating the benefits amateur clubs receive from this support.
HOW DOES THE DFB SUPPORT AMATEUR FOOTBALL? The DFB oversees the organization of the game with the primary responsibilities falling to the regional associations and their local departments. The DFB’s role involves aiding national and regional associations in developing their structures, creating synergies, and minimizing costs. The financial aspects of amateur football do not encompass DFB funds that clubs benefit from regarding innovations in game management and organizational operations. Through the DFBnet system, various online tools facilitate club management, including pitch bookings, referee appointments, and match confirmations. Organized football remains economical as the DFB and associations offer diverse services to support clubs. Moreover, the DFB actively champions grassroots football at a political level, which aids in enhancing the clubs and the sport overall. A notable example is the decision made by the DFB Bundestag in Erfurt in November 2016 to increase direct financial support for regional associations from five million euros to eight million euros for future charitable initiatives at the local level. The DFB also funds various grassroots projects, including:
Amateur football masterclass initiatives (e.g., club networking)
Training for “junior assistant coaches”
DFB-Mobil
Digital services (including fussball.de, Training and Service, DFBnet)
Girls’ and women’s football
DFB Foundation by Egidius Braun
Qualification events for clubs, staff, and coaches
DFB Talent Support Programme (DFB points system)
Bonus system for amateur clubs training youth
Elite football school.
