Already applied at the European Championship

New captain rule also in German Bundesliga

The new rule also applies to captain Manuel Neuer and his Bayern team.(Bild: Eibner / EXPA / picturedesk.com)

The rule introduced at the European Championship that only team captains may complain to the referees about their decisions will also be introduced in German soccer and will apply with immediate effect.

As the DFB announced on Tuesday, the so-called captain's rule will be applied uniformly in all divisions. This decision was made by DFB Schiri GmbH, the DFB and the German Football League (DFL).

"Suder rule"
Violations of the captain's rule can quickly result in yellow cards for comments or reactions from other players. Times in which a crowd of players talks at the referee are to be a thing of the past. The fact that the referee now only explains his view to the captain should also ensure that interruptions are reduced and net playing time is increased.

The "Suder rule" will also apply in European Cup competitions in future. At the European Championships, it resulted in significantly fewer discussions with the referee and the formation of packs. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) is also currently considering implementing the rule, but no decision has yet been made.