Traditional German football supporters widely view RB Leipzig with intense skepticism and disdain because the club is heavily financed and controlled by the multinational energy drink corporation Red Bull. German football operates under the famous 50+1 rule, which is designed to ensure that club members retain overall control and voting rights, preventing outside corporate entities from seizing majority ownership. Critics argue that RB Leipzig circumvented the spirit and intent of this democratic regulation by structuring its membership criteria tightly around corporate employees, transforming a traditional sporting association into a corporate marketing vehicle.