Monday, May 03, 2021
One-time process threatens
DFB clarifies Keller’s scandal in front of the sports court
At the DFB, President Fritz Keller’s “Nazi” scandal goes to the next level: The association’s ethics committee referred the matter to its own sports court. This could mean something new in the history of the association.
The DFB ethics committee has discussed the Nazi settlement of the ailing President Fritz Keller and submitted the result to the DFB sports court for a decision. This was announced by the DFB. The association did not provide any information on the details of the completed deliberations, including how the further proceedings would proceed and whether Keller actually had to appear as a defendant before the sports court. In the recent history of the DFB, which was turbulent and marked by numerous scandals, no incumbent president had to answer before the association’s sports court.
Another procedure involving the DFB boss and his office manager was also discussed, here the four-person commission pleads for approval of the discontinuation of the procedure.
Keller had called Vice President Rainer Koch “Freisler” and compared it with Roland Freisler, the chairman of the People’s Court under National Socialism. Secretary General Friedrich Curtius is said to have reported the incident directly to the ethics committee. On Sunday, the heads of the state and regional associations withdrew their trust from both Keller and the long-standing secretary general.
Curtius promises goodbye
The commission also advised two motions against Curtius. On the one hand, it concerns the circumstances in connection with the immediate termination of Keller’s office manager and, on the other hand, the forwarding of a letter from Keller to the media advisor Kurt Diekmann. These results were also presented to the sports court; there was no mention of an attitude here.
DFB general secretary Friedrich Curtius had made his first statement in the afternoon after the vote of the regional and state chiefs and initially did not draw any personal consequences, but at least indirectly held the prospect of a possible farewell. “I am available for discussions on constructive solutions for the DFB at any time, this of course also includes my role,” said the official about the DFB. “I respect the vote of the conference of regional and state associations and take it very seriously,” said Curtius.
The long-time Secretary General particularly emphasized the vote against President Keller, who has been a major opponent of Curtius in the power struggle at the world’s largest sports association for months. “With its very clear stance on the unacceptable Freisler statement by Fritz Keller and her request to resign, the conference has given a clear signal as to how it envisions a new beginning at the top of the DFB,” the 44-year-old is quoted as saying.
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