Football executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge advocates for fair wages in the sport and criticizes excessive influence ascribed to advisors
In the world of professional football, the responsible handling of finances has become increasingly crucial, and this is evident in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has been a vocal advocate for this financial prudence, stating that it is key to the success of the sport.
The salary development in football is moving upwards, according to Rummenigge, with players and agents increasingly demanding higher salaries. To ensure financial stability, the limit for salary spending as a percentage of revenue in football has been lowered from 100% to 70% since 2022. This change has forced some clubs to reassess and reduce their excessive personnel costs.
Rummenigge believes that one can be sportingly successful with clever, sustainable investments. He cites Paris Saint-Germain's recent success in the Champions League as an example, as they won the title without the most expensive salary structure in Europe. He finds this pleasing, highlighting the importance of responsible financial management in professional football.
The 70% salary spending limit has been introduced as a means of financial regulation in football. Rummenigge suggests that a further reduction in the limit could provide a more sensible framework. He also believes that clubs and associations must maintain control, particularly over agents, who he thinks should not become too powerful.
The reform of Financial Fair Play is an example of necessary reforms by associations and leagues to change awareness of salary expectations. Rummenigge states that even Bayern Munich sometimes pays high salaries that don't reflect the value delivered. He emphasises that every club has the responsibility not to let agents become too powerful and for clubs to show strength in this matter.
While no current explicit salary expenditure restrictions or caps tied directly to Rummenigge's concerns are available, some related context can be drawn from existing and proposed salary caps in football variants and other football forms. For instance, La Liga has a regulated salary cap system, with the cap reaching nearly €2.8 billion in 2025 to control club spending. This system is designed to balance financial responsibility with competitive viability, aligning with Rummenigge's advocacy for financial sustainability in football.
In summary, the financial sustainability of football clubs is a topic of growing importance. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's concerns align with measures such as the salary cap system in La Liga, which aims to ensure financial stability while maintaining competitiveness. The 70% salary spending limit in football, as well as the reform of Financial Fair Play, are steps towards addressing excessive salary spending in the sport. A further reduction of the salary spending limit in the long term could be desirable, according to Rummenigge, as it would provide a more sensible framework for clubs to operate within.
In line with his advocacy for financial sustainability, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge argues that a further reduction in the salary spending limit could offer a more sensible framework for football clubs, as seen in the regulated salary cap system in La Liga. He also emphasizes the need for clubs and associations to maintain control over agents, particularly in terms of their growing power in the business of football.
