Djamal Ziane Slams DFB as Leipzig Fc Faces Würzburg
leipzig fc captain Djamal Ziane says the DFB’s promotion playoff system is “sinnlos” as the club prepares for two matches against Würzburger Kickers on 28 May and 1 June. The 34-year-old striker is chasing 3. Liga promotion for the third time, with Lok Leipzig again forced through the same playoff route after winning the Regionalliga title for a second straight season.
Ziane did not soften the criticism. He said there are no two opinions about how pointless the system is and added that the DFB could change it relatively quickly if it wanted to. His complaint lands in a format that offers five Regionalliga champions only four promotion places to the 3. Liga, leaving one champion out every year.
Ziane and Lok Leipzig
The personal side of this run is hard to ignore. Ziane said, “Nach Verl hatte man nicht im Kopf, dass man das noch einmal erreichen kann” after Lok Leipzig’s 2020 failure against SC Verl, then added, “Erst recht nicht nach Havelse. Dass es wieder für ganz oben gereicht hat, ist charakterlich und sportlich natürlich 1A.”
Those two exits are the backdrop to this third attempt. Lok Leipzig missed promotion in 2020 against SC Verl and again in 2025 against TSV Havelse, when the tie went to extra time in the second leg. This time, the club reaches the playoffs with another Regionalliga title but the same route, and the same risk, waiting in front of it.
Würzburger Kickers on 28 May
Wednesday’s first leg brings the immediate test. Ziane said, “Ich glaube, dass es nicht schadet, wenn man diese Erfahrung, diese Anspannung, schon einmal erlebt hat. Du musst einfach versuchen, in den beiden Spielen an deine Leistungsgrenze zu kommen. Wer das schafft, schafft es am Ende auch nach oben.”
He also set the tone for the home match, saying, “Wir werden uns nicht verstecken. Wir sind immer noch Lok Leipzig und spielen vor einem ausverkauften Haus. Das muss man merken und das wird man auch merken. Wir werden alles raushauen, das erwarten wir auch vom Rang. Dann denke ich, wird es für Würzburg hier sehr, sehr schwer. Ein Sieg ohne Gegentor würde ein gutes Fundament für das Rückspiel setzen.”
Stefan Maderer Injury
Lok Leipzig will have to manage the tie without Stefan Maderer, who is out injured. That leaves Ziane carrying more of the load as the club tries to turn a second consecutive Regionalliga title into the promotion it has already missed twice.
The pressure is obvious enough without adding more to it. Lok Leipzig has one home date in front of a sold-out crowd, one away leg on 1 June, and one system Ziane has already made clear he sees as unnecessary.
