Austrian pot: Future uncertain-what does that mean for our league?

Austrian pot: Future uncertain-what does that mean for our league?

Hartberg, Österreich - With the end of the anniversary season of the Austrian pot, a two decades end. The Austrian pot, a funding for clubs in the Austrian Bundesliga, was introduced to limit the proportion of foreigners in the league and to promote the domestic offspring. The system was launched in 2004/2005 due to the increase in foreign players according to the Bosman judgment. This shows how important the regulation was for smaller clubs that rely on financial support in order to remain competitive. However, opinions about this measure are shared: while some consider the Austrian pot as an important instrument for promoting young talent, others see it as an outdated relic that is no longer up to date.

The funding of the Austrian pot is largely via the TV revenue of the league, the contract of which expires at the end of the 2025/26 season. The uncertainty about future income raises questions about how to promote domestic talent. Bundesliga officials are increasingly criticizing and the popularity of the Austrian pot seems to decrease. A possible abolition of the current model within a year is considered and could have far -reaching consequences for the financial situation of the Bundesliga clubs.

The big winners and losers

In the past season, TSV Hartberg in particular could benefit from the regulations of the Austrian pot. Hartberg achieved considerable income through rental businesses with talents such as Justin Omoregie by Red Bull Salzburg, Elias Havel from LASK and Furkan Demir from SK Rapid and Muharem Huskovic from Austria Vienna. The U22 classification of these players ensures that they are weighted four times, which leads to savings of several hundred thousand euros for the association.

The future of the Austrian pot

The debate about the Austrian pot is accompanied by legal disputes that question the regulation under Union law. Almost all football clubs in Austria, with the exception of FK Austria Vienna and Red Bull Salzburg, benefited from the funding. The fact that Red Bull Salzburg had over 21 football legionnaires in her squad brings additional complexity to the discussion.

The future of the Austrian pot remains uncertain, and before the summer transfer window opens, the financial situation of the Bundesliga clubs for the 2024/25 season must be clarified in good time. Regardless of the controversy, the Austrian pot remains a central topic in the Austrian football scene, the relevance and design of which must also be discussed. The current discussion shows how important a balanced promotion of domestic football is and how the system may have to develop.

90minuten.at reports on the financial situation, while Wikipedia summarizes the historical background and the development of the Austrian pot. Further details on the discussion about the future of the funding system can be found at Derandard .