BOTTROP/FRANKFURT - Will the top players in the German bundesliga, like Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dick Jaspers, Frédéric Caudron, Eddy Merckx, Dani Sánchez and Marco Zanetti still be allowed to show up in this three cushion league as of next season? And will the German league still be the strongest in the world with all its foreign world class players? The new rules, launched by the DBU, the German billiards federation, have caused a storm of protest among players and teams, because this measure prescribes that both the German players and foreign players are no longer allowed to play in a team competition in more than two countries as of next season.
According to players and teams, the new rule is absurd and would ruin the best league in the world. The German players have now decided to make a strong protest. Moreover, Helmut Bierman, CEB board member and chairman of one of the sixteen federations within the DBU (Westphalia), has written an urgent letter to the DBU on behalf of his organization. Biermann, elaborating: ,,I have summoned the board of the DBU to the sports court, because these new rules were implemented against the regulations. The DBU board is not authorized to do this, only the general assembly is. I have asked for the reason behind this decision several times, and for further explanation, but nobody has come up with one. Nobody knows why this decision was taken.''
Biermann: ,,If my interpretation of the regulations is correct, they are not entitled to change the rules in this manner. The sports court of DBU is independent, it can make a ruling. It is my duty - as chairman of the Westfalen region, where most of the foreign top players are active - to take this matter to the tribunal. I have since spoken many of the players, and nobody can understand what the board intends to accomplish, with this measure.''
The new rule states: German players are allowed to play only in other countries as of next season if they get permission from their German federation. Players under 18 don't get permission to play in foreign leagues. Foreign players, who also play for another federation, can only play in the German league, the Bundesliga, if they get permission from their own federation. They are only allowed to play in one other country than Germany.
The German baord is expected to consider the new rules again these days. The storm of protests by players and teams will undoubtedly lead to discussions. ,,When they maintain these new rules, it will be the end of the bundesliga'', is the reaction of many players in the top league. Many sponsors will stop, is the general opinion within the clubs. In addition, the league will lose its appeal when the world class players have to leave the competition.
The German players have time to oppose the new rule until 15th of May.