Court Rules FC Bundestag Must Allow AfD Members to Participate

A Berlin court invalidates the football club's decision to exclude AfD politicians, citing violations of the club's bylaws.

• The Landgericht Berlin ruled that the FC Bundestag cannot exclude AfD members based on their party affiliation, as it violates the club's existing bylaws.
• The club's bylaws stipulate that any current or former Bundestag member is eligible for membership, and changes to this rule would require a formal amendment.
• The 2024 decision to bar AfD members was made in a member vote, with a majority citing concerns over the party's association with right-wing extremism.
• The ruling allows AfD members, including those previously suspended from play, to rejoin the club's activities, though the decision is not yet legally binding and may face appeal.
• The case highlights tensions within the club over its identity as an over-partisan institution versus its members' political and ethical stances.

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