Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen has thrown his weight behind plans to reform Germany's Regionalliga. The 59-year-old publicly supports DFB President Bernd Neuendorf's 'Kompass-Modell', which would allow all four Regionalliga champions to promote directly to the 3. Liga starting from the 2028/29 season.

Dreesen sits on the Bundesliga Presidency, which has unanimously backed the model. First of all, the Kompass-Modell seems to him to be the best compromise, said the Bayern CEO. From a sporting perspective, the key thing is that every champion finally gets promoted directly. The reform would reduce the number of Regionalliga divisions from five to four, split into North, West, South, and East.

Decision in December

The DFB-Bundestag is scheduled to vote on the plans on 18 December. A two-thirds majority of delegates is required for adoption. Dreesen expressed hope that this majority would be achieved. He absolutely agrees with Bernd Neuendorf that football must not become a symbol of stagnation for reforms, Dreesen continued, calling for swift action in the interest of the game.

The reform is particularly relevant for Bundesliga clubs with their reserve teams. In an internal association vote in late June, only the north, northeast, and west regions supported the Kompass-Modell. The southwest and Bavaria voted against it. The Conference of Regional and State Association Presidents welcomed the convening of the DFB-Bundestag but did not guarantee a majority for the current model.

Alternative Proposals Possible

As a potential alternative, BFV President Christoph Kern could propose expanding the 3. Liga to 22 teams with five relegation spots. This would be possible with a simple majority if the current five-Regionalliga structure is maintained, requiring no change to DFB statutes. Another idea is the introduction of a two-division fourth league above the Regionalliga. Neuendorf stressed that amendments or counter-proposals to the Kompass-Modell can be submitted at the Bundestag.

The Kompass-Modell plans to use AI to distribute clubs across the four divisions to minimise travel distances. Clubs near state borders could switch divisions between seasons. While Bayern Munich's first team is not directly affected by these structural discussions, their focus remains on current competition. Bayern entered the international break with an away win at SV Elversberg, where Harry Kane provided an assist and scored himself. The team's recent form can be tracked in our stats. The upcoming schedule is on our fixtures page.

The final decision on the future of German football's lower pyramid will be made on 18 December.

The original report is at Bild Sport