until 2001, the bundesliga was directly under the control german football's governing body the deutscher fußball-bund (dfb or german football association). this changed with the formation of the deutsche fußball-liga (dfl or german football league) when the bundesligen came under the auspices of this new body. the dfl, while remaining subordinate to the dfb, manages germany's professional leagues and is responsible for the issuing of licences to clubs, general fiscal oversight of the bundesligen, and marketing rights for the two upper leagues.