Austrian Football Bundesliga

As of the 2018/19 season, a new mode came into effect. Since then, 12 teams play against each other initially in 22 rounds of the championship. After 22 match days, each team's points are halved and the championship continues in two separate groups. The top six teams play for the championship title and international slots, while the bottom teams play for the last place, which means fixed relegation. A novelty also for leagues with split modes is the possibility to still be represented internationally as the winner of the relegation group. Thus, the winner of the relegation group (7th place) plays in a play-off for Europa League qualification against the club in the championship group with the lowest ranking that still qualifies for the Europa League.

Based on the placement in UEFA's five-year ranking, the European Cup places are awarded in the Bundesliga. Due to the changing results of Austrian clubs in European Cup competitions, the number of starting places in the Champions League and Europa League changes frequently.

The Austrian Football League is an independent registered association and was admitted to the ÖFB as its tenth full member on 1 December 1991. The association is responsible for and organises the championships of the two highest divisions in Austria. In addition, the Bundesliga is jointly responsible for the implementation of the Football Youth League and represents professional football in Austria in cooperation with the clubs. The 20 clubs of the Bundesliga and the First League are the full members of the association. Externally, the Bundesliga is represented by the Executive Board, supported by an office. The latter supports the Supervisory Board in operational matters. Each club in the two professional leagues is represented at the general meetings and club conferences, at which decisions are taken on all matters relating to the Bundesliga.

The senates of the Bundesliga consist of volunteers who are independent of the clubs:

• Senate 1 (also known as the Penalty Committee) is responsible for yellow card suspensions, scoring of championship games, and in the case of expulsions.
• Senate 2 (Conciliation and Control Committee) acts as a conciliation body in the event of differences between ordinary members.
• Senate 3 (Stadium and Safety Committee) is responsible for all infrastructural and safety matters.
• The determination of economic viability for the granting of a licence for the two professional leagues is made in the first instance by Senate 5, the Bundesliga Licensing Committee.

The decisions of the senates can be appealed to the protest committee. The decision of the protest committee can also be appealed by the permanent neutral arbitration court.

In cooperation with the clubs, the Austrian Football League is responsible for the positive development of top-level football and for introducing young players to competitive sport. As a means to this end, the Bundesliga sees economic controlling of the clubs (licensing procedures), the introduction of a separate law for professional football, TV marketing, central sponsoring activities as well as joint marketing activities of all clubs. Although the "Österreichische Fußball-Bundesliga" association organises both the first-class Bundesliga and the second-class 2nd division, only the first-class Bundesliga is described below. For a detailed overview of the development of the second tier in Austria, see the article 2. Liga.