Axel Hefer, president of Schalke, has expressed concern over the growing predictability of the German Bundesliga, where Bayern Munich have claimed every title but one in the past 14 years.
“The league lacks excitement, especially in the title race. This can be changed. We need to reduce the likelihood that the champion is known well in advance. Currently, the team that wins almost always has a squad valued at twice that of the runner-up,” Hefer told Bild in an interview.
Hefer proposes a solution centered around introducing playoffs:
“Playoff matches could help here. The top clubs would still qualify for the Champions League based on their regular season performance — this ensures planning certainty and financial stability. At the same time, the title race would be reopened through a final playoff round. The DFB-Pokal proves this concept, as Bayern do not win it every time. A knockout series to decide the championship would also have strong international appeal.”
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