page_title: Regionalliga Süd (1994–2012)
section_title: Expansion of the league in 2000
hierarchical_section_title: Regionalliga Süd (1994–2012) / League history / Expansion of the league in 2000
caption_attribution_description: English: Germany's Regionalliga Süd (2000-2008) including football clubs from the states of Bayern, Hessen, Baden-Württemberg,, Thüringen, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.
context_page_description: The Regionalliga Süd was the fourth tier of the German football league system from 2008 to 2012. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It was the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany. It covered the states of Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg and was one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga West.
  The league was disbanded at the end of the 2011–12 season, with the Bavarian clubs joining the new Regionalliga Bayern while the others joined the clubs from the southwest of Germany to form the new Regionalliga Südwest.
  From 1963 to 1974, a Regionalliga Süd existed as the second tier of the German football league system, but this league is not directly related to the current one.
context_section_description: After six seasons, in 2000, the number of Regionalligas was reduced from four to two. Only the Regionalligas Süd and Nord survived. The clubs of the other two were spread according to their geographical location.
  To make room for these extra clubs without expanding past the 18 team number, the seven bottom placed teams were supposed to be relegated. However, FC Augsburg (8th) did not receive a license for the next season and Karlsruher SC II (12th) had to drop down because the first team was relegated to the Regionalliga and regulations forbid two teams from the same club to compete in the same league at this level.
  
  
   
  The relegated clubs were:
  FC Augsburg
  Karlsruher SC II
  FSV Frankfurt
  TSF Ditzingen
  SG Quelle Fürth
  Borussia Fulda
  SV Lohhof
   
  In their stead, the following seven teams were admitted:
  From the 2. Bundesliga:
  Karlsruher SC
  Kickers Offenbach
  From the Regionalliga West/Südwest:
  Eintracht Trier
  SV Elversberg
  Sportfreunde Siegen
  From the Regionalliga Nordost:
  FC Carl Zeiss Jena
  Rot-Weiß Erfurt
caption: Map of Germany:Position of the Regionalliga Süd (2000–2008) highlighted
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