Workshop on diversity and gender equality

25 March 2022 – In order to facilitate a comprehensive exchange of ideas on the topics of diversity and gender equality, the HR managers of the clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 came together for an assembly this week. Proceeding from the recommendations of the “Future of Professional Football” task force, the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga issued invitations to a digital event where it presented analyses and possible courses of action from renowned specialist advisers.

In collaboration with Odgers Berndtson as well as the Women Career Index (Frauen Karriere Index, FKI), the DFL has been working on the promotion of career opportunities for women in professional football in recent months. Always bearing in mind the basic premise that the clubs are, of course, each responsible for individual personnel strategies and decisions based on their own philosophy, structure and economic strength – the transfer of knowledge across the leagues, enriched by external input, is fruitful for all parties.

The head of the DFL’s Human Resources department, Dr Marion Mertesacker, guided the assembly through the agenda for the workshop. Ewald Manz (Partner at Odgers Berndtson) as well as Barbara Lutz (CEO) and Barbara von Graeve (Senior Consultant) from the FKI imparted the latest insights and many years of experience. The intention is to present best practices at a further event and thus provide concrete support for increasing gender diversity in football as a professional field. The DFL itself will consistently pursue the topic with an eye to its own organisation.

“Promotion of women in football” was one of the 17 recommendations in the summary report of the “Future of Professional Football” task force that was published in February 2021. In the task force, 37 experts from the fields of sport, society, science, politics and business addressed major issues and questions relating to the future of professional football in interdisciplinary discussions.