The financial backer of Hoffenheim, Dietmar Hopp, has been granted permission by the DFL to take a majority share in the club from 1 July 2015.
Hopp and Hoffenheim have been much maligned by German clubs for how the side from Sinsheim have risen up the footballing pyramid and, unsurprisingly, the decision on Thursday was met with a similar annoyance. Christian Heidel, Mainz director, has publicly spoken of how damaging clubs like Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig can be to the established teams with their core in the community.
Although the DFB still have to give everything a once over and confirm the decision, it does look like the 74-year-old will get control of his beloved club. Having supported them since 2000, he did in fact play for the Hoffenheim in his youth. The league association board can determine exceptions on request in cases, "in which a legal entity has uninterruptedly and significantly supported the football of a parent club for more than 20 years", which is why Martin Kind and his consortium are set to take over Hannover 96 in 2017.
Club President Peter Hofmann was delighted with the decision, "Dietmar Hopp fulfils the criteria which are laid out in the rules and regulations of the DFL as regards to the 50+1 rule in an exemplary manner. His involvement has set new benchmarks while achieving something unique."