RB Leipzig is also winning. That’s not new either.
The latest result, a full three points at presumptive Bundesliga heavyweight Bayer Leverkusen, pushed RB Leipzig to the very top of the table. That could change after tomorrow’s Der Klassiker, as a Bayern Munich win over Borussia Dortmund would see the Bavarians regain the league lead on goal differential, and they remain title favorites.
But surely there’s enough evidence now that RB Leipzig, cunningly adept, exceedingly adolescent and (depending on who you ask) flagrantly amoral, is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Widely excoriated across Germany and even other parts of Europe, the hatred stems from the club’s governing practices behind the scenes. RB Leipzig was founded a mere seven years ago when Red Bull seized the club license of a fifth-division side, which helped it circumvent the legal obstacles in establishing a soccer club in the German Football Association, or DFB.
The DFB operates under a so-called “50+1 rule” to ensure a majority of voting rights are kept with the clubs’ members to help them keep business in the black and protect against takeovers by external investors, like the ones that have bankrolled the rises of Chelsea and Manchester City in England.
RB Leipzig has almost gleefully tinkered with the rule, charging absurd sums of money to become a member and therefore wield voting power in the first place. Annual fees can be up to €1,000, outpacing even Bayern Munich’s asking prices. The club’s officials have defended the incredibly strict membership with thin excuses such as avoiding the influence of ultras, but what they’re doing is plainly transparent.
Almost all of the 17 members are employed by Red Bull or associated with the energy drink giant, and the company’s considerable finances are being poured into the club. The “RB” doesn’t technically stand for Red Bull – DFB rules won’t allow it, so the official name is “RasenBallsport” – but the kits are sponsored by Red Bull, the team plays at Red Bull Arena, and even the official Twitter handle is @DieRotenBullen, which translates to “the red bulls.”
So it’s not hard to see how one could accuse RB Leipzig of thumbing its nose at German soccer, and German soccer by and large is fighting back. The numerous protests have verged from creative to unruly to downright hideous, and they may not stop until at least the end of the season.
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