DEKRA Sustainability auditing for licensing processes
DEKRA to Become Sustainability Criteria Auditor for German Soccer Governing Body
Expert organization DEKRA is set to become an independent, external auditor of sustainability criteria in the licensing processes undertaken by the governing body responsible for the top tiers of soccer in Germany, the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL). The Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga have become the first major professional soccer leagues to make sustainability criteria a mandatory component of their licensing regulations. The criteria will make their debut as part of the upcoming licensing process for the 2023/24 season.
DEKRA Assurance Services GmbH will be tasked with auditing the sustainability criteria for the DFL’s licensing processes over the next three seasons. Once they have received the documents and evidence to be submitted by the clubs, the DEKRA experts will evaluate these with respect to implementation of the DFL’s Sustainability Guidelines (Annex XIV of the body’s Licensing Regulations). The Sustainability Guidelines, including a series of minimum criteria, were adopted by the 36 professional clubs at a DFL members’ meeting in May 2022.
The goal is to ensure ongoing progress with sustainability, based in part on the Guidelines and individual club commitments, from establishing and expanding basic structures to fleshing out effective, measurable action plans. The 117 minimum criteria set out in the Sustainability Guidelines can be divided into three clusters: club governance and organization, environment and resources, and stakeholders.