Proposal requested for a worker safety directive regarding ionizing radiation risks by the Commission.
In a shocking turn of events, German women's handball double champions HB Ludwigsburg have found themselves in financial trouble and are unable to secure funding for the upcoming 2025/26 season. This unfortunate situation has led to the initiation of insolvency proceedings, the release of all players from their contracts, and the club's exclusion from both the Bundesliga and the EHF Champions League.
The insolvency means the club’s operations cannot continue under the current economic conditions, forcing a potential restart on a smaller scale with a reduced budget. However, the exact steps for the future of HB Ludwigsburg remain unclear.
Dr. Holger Leichtle, the preliminary insolvency administrator, made the decision that it is not reasonable for the players to continue to be bound by their contracts. The team has been informed about the financial situation, and the players are now free to seek opportunities with other clubs.
The German women's handball league (HBF) has announced the insolvency procedure for HB Ludwigsburg, resulting in a deduction of eight bonus points at the end of the regular season. This decision was made according to § 8b of the league's statutes.
The collapse of HB Ludwigsburg has created significant disruption within the German women’s handball Bundesliga. Over 20 Ludwigsburg games are expected to be lost, raising challenges to the league's scheduling and competitive integrity. The collapse has also sparked strong criticism, with some league officials condemning the situation as deceptive toward other clubs and fearing a setback for German women’s handball overall.
The European Handball Federation (EHF) has demanded detailed financial information from the club and initiated legal actions against HB Ludwigsburg and the German Handball Federation for failing to meet EHF Champions League registration requirements.
HB Ludwigsburg, previously known as SG BBM Bietigheim, moved to Ludwigsburg last year. The club achieved great success until 2024 before moving to Ludwigsburg, winning the championship and the cup under their new name in the last season.
In summary, the key steps and outcomes for HB Ludwigsburg are:
- Insolvency filing and legal proceedings initiated.
- Release of all players from contracts, allowing them to seek other clubs.
- Exclusion from the 2025/26 Bundesliga and EHF Champions League, with Sola HK replacing them in the latter.
- Ongoing efforts to rebuild with a reduced budget and smaller operational scale, but without guaranteed participation.
- Penalty of bonus points deduction and likely loss of league matches for the season.
- Negative impact on the German women’s handball Bundesliga, creating scheduling challenges and raising concerns about the league’s financial stability.
- Despite their past success in handball, HB Ludwigsburg's financial issues have forced them to reconsider their operations, aiming to restart on a smaller scale with a reduced budget.
- The financial troubles that led to HB Ludwigsburg's insolvency have made it impossible for their players to continue their contracts, leaving them free to pursue opportunities in other sports or clubs.
