In recent months, there have been an increasing number of appeals by clubs following matches in BFV match operations, which have been lodged with the opposing team in accordance with the updated match regulations outdated player photos in the DFBnet. A precedent has now been set in the Polytan Cup quarter-finals for the 1st women's team with a ruling by the sports court and confirmation of this by the association court. According to this ruling, the victory is retroactively awarded to the team that properly lodged an objection with the opposing team due to outdated player photos. The rule in the match regulations applies to league and national cup matches.
We at the BFV are taking the displeasure of many clubs as an opportunity to once again provide information about the rule change and explain it.
When is a photo update necessary?
The regulation in the BFV match regulationsto ensure that player photos on DFBnet are as up-to-date as possible is not new, but was not precisely defined in the past. A motion by the Match Committee at the last Ordinary Association Day therefore provided for a specification of § 14 "Proof of eligibility to play" (we reported). The motion was approved by a majority of the delegates present, mainly club representatives.
Since January 1, 2026, the following applies:
The up-to-dateness of the photos for the player permit in the DFB data record must be checked by the clubs at regular intervals and updated accordingly if necessary.
In the children's and youth area, the photo must be updated after the change from the small to the large field (from C-Juniors*).
The photo must be updated after the change from the youth field to the adult field (after the A-Juniors/B-Juniors).
In the adult sector, the photo must be updated every ten years at the latest.
If no up-to-date player photo is uploaded to DFBnet in accordance with these lists, the player is not eligible to play. In order to avoid frustration after a sporting success, we appeal to the clubs to consistently observe the regulation in their own interest with immediate effect. The sports and association courts, as independent legal bodies, and the clubs are equally bound by the match regulations and no goodwill can be shown, regardless of the amount or significance of the sporting success.
