Arminia Bielefeld given aid, relegated to 3rd tier

Published Apr. 19, 2011 7:04 a.m. ET

foxsports

The German football league has granted struggling second-division club Arminia Bielefeld ?1.25 million ($1.8 million) in financial aid but also docked it three points - sealing its relegation.

The league says it granted the aid from a fund that aims to plug short-term funding gaps.

Bielefeld's relegation already looked near-certain after a season in which it has won just three matches.

The deduction leaves it with 13 points with four games to go. It now has no chance of finishing in 16th place, which would entitle it to a playoff with the third-place club in the third division.

Bielefeld played in the top division for several years until it was relegated in 2009.