THE SIDELINES : East, West Germany to Merge Soccer Leagues, Field One Team

Soccer officials from East and West Germany agreed today to merge their leagues and form a joint national team next year.

The decision, announced by West German Soccer Federation spokesman Wolfgang Niersbach, means that one German team will compete in the 1992 Olympics and European Championship. In 1994, one German team will defend the World Cup title West Germany won in Italy earlier this month.

East German soccer players will be eligible for the joint national team beginning in 1991, Niersbach said. He said East German teams will withdraw immediately from European international competitions but that club teams will not withdraw until the 1990-91 European Cups finish next spring.

Starting with the 1991-92 season, the West German first division will be expanded to 20 clubs to include the top two East German teams this season. The second division will accept six East German clubs.

The soccer union was moved forward by one year to reflect the quickening pace of political unification that is expected to be completed in December. Earlier plans had called for the soccer merger to come in 1992.