Leipzig unconcerned over potential European ban

Bundesliga debutant RB Leipzig could miss out on a maiden voyage in continental competition next season because of UEFA rules limiting the entry of multiple clubs under the same ownership.

With Austrian side RB Salzburg sitting atop its domestic league and Leipzig comfortably second in Germany’s top flight, both sides owned by energy drink manufacturer Red Bull are near-certainties for no worse than a Champions League qualifying playoff spot.

Not so fast, says UEFA, insisting, according to ESPN FC, that, “no individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition,” and that if two or more clubs fail to meet the criteria “only one of them may be admitted to a UEFA club competition.”

Austrian outlet Salzburger Nachrichten adds that UEFA has privately confirmed as much, and with terms stating that “the club which was best-ranked in the domestic championship” would gain European entry, Leipzig appears set to miss out.

Still, Leipzig CEO and Red Bull head of global football Oliver Mintzlaff remains unconcerned.

“At RB Leipzig, there is no nervousness and there are no alleged ‘signals’ from UEFA,” Mintzlaff said.

“Should we qualify for a European competition, there’d be no reason to doubt that we’d play internationally next term.”

Since its founding in 2009, Leipzig has enjoyed a meteoric rise from the NOFV-Oberliga Sud to the Bundesliga, and the club’s corporate ties have drawn the ire of supporters across Germany, with violence surrounding a match with Borussia Dortmund the most recent example of contempt.

Unsurprisingly, Mintzlaff and Co. are undaunted by speculation linking it with a potential Champions League dismissal.