Second League:

Still no license for Leoben and Dornbirn

Dornbirn remains without a license.(Bild: GEPA)

DSV Leoben and FC Dornbirn are still without a license for the coming season. The protest committee denied the second division clubs a license in the second instance for financial reasons, as the Bundesliga announced on Monday. On the other hand, Stripfing received approval for the second-highest division "due to the proven relocation of the club's headquarters to Deutsch-Wagram and the naming of the Generali Arena as its home stadium", the league wrote in its press release.

Stripfing chairman Christoph Pelczar was delighted. "We are aware of the challenges we face, but we were able to demonstrate that we met all the required criteria as part of the appeal. We now have planning security and are looking forward to taking the next steps in our development," said Pelczar.

Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz was subsequently awarded a license for the Bundesliga, but as the team is currently in eleventh place in the table, it has no chance of promotion anyway. The Vorarlberg club had already been granted a license for the 2nd division after the first instance.

No license for Austria Salzburg
The regional league clubs Austria Salzburg and Welser Sportklub Hertha were denied admission to the second-highest league. Kremser SC had not lodged a protest against the first-instance refusal of admission. Since the league reform, a distinction has been made between a license (applies to the Bundesliga) and admission (applies to the 2nd division). Receipt of the license also entitles the club to participate in the 2nd division.

Leoben was refused permission to play for financial reasons.(Bild: GEPA)

Eight-day appeal period
The decisions of the protest committee conclude the appeal process within the Bundesliga. Clubs still have eight days to lodge an appeal against the refusal of a license with the Permanent Court of Neutral Arbitration; a decision will be made by the end of May at the latest.