Berlin Court Rules FC Bundestag Cannot Exclude AfD Members

The decision invalidates a 2024 club resolution barring AfD politicians, citing violations of the club's bylaws.

The Berlin Regional Court ruled that the FC Bundestag's 2024 resolution to bar AfD members was invalid due to a violation of the club's bylaws.
The club's bylaws allow any current or former Bundestag member to join, and changes to these rules would require a formal amendment.
Four AfD members had sued after being suspended from play, arguing the exclusion was discriminatory and unconstitutional.
The court emphasized that political affiliation alone cannot justify exclusion from the club, which identifies as nonpartisan and inter-factional.
Club chairman Mahmut Özdemir defended the resolution as a stance against perceived right-wing extremism, but the court found this reasoning insufficient under the bylaws.