License chaos in Austrian football: Who is fighting for the future?

License chaos in Austrian football: Who is fighting for the future?

The hot phase of licensing in Austrian professional football has started! On March 3, 2025, the deadline for submitting the license and approval applications for the 2025/26 season ended. A total of 35 clubs submitted their applications, including the twelve teams of the Admiral Bundesliga and the 16 clubs of Admiral 2nd League, as well as representatives from all three regional leaves. Among the best -known applicants, FC Red Bull Salzburg and Rapid Vienna can be found, as well as the promoters such as the Young Violets from Vienna Austria and the amateurs of the LASK from the regional league, the colleagues from Ligaportal.at

The way to the license

The license is the key to participating in the highest league and also a prerequisite for the Admiral 2. League. In detail, applicants submitted their applications in the following form: The Admiral Bundesliga includes clubs such as SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz, FC Blau-Weiß Linz and the Graz AK 1902. In the 2nd league, FC Liefering and SV Horn have applied. The applications of amateur teams, such as SV Klöcher Bau Oberwart from the Regionalliga Ost, show the importance of this licensing phase for the entire football scene in Austria, as well as the news from vienna.at illustrate.

In the coming weeks, an intensive examination phase will take place through the Bundesliga license administration and the independent Senate 5, with financial experts being consulted. These experts will decide whether further evidence will be requested. If applications are rejected in the first instance, applicants have the option of taking a protest within eight days. The final decisions are expected to fall by mid -May 2025, which is of enormous importance for many clubs. A strong focus is on checking the financial performance of the clubs that is essential for professional sport.