The 50+1 rule guards against this. The name of the rule refers to the need for members of a club to hold 50 percent, plus one more vote, of voting rights - i.e. a majority. In short, it means that clubs - and, by extension, the fans - have the ultimate say in how they are run, not an outside influence or investor.

Often cited as a fourth exemption, RB Leipzig do adhere to the 50+1 rule on paper, with 99% of the voting shares in the commercial entity which operates the club's Bundesliga side in the hands of club members. There are, however, as of 2024, only 21 members, all of whom are linked directly or indirectly to Red Bull.