August 15 – Freiburg’s Fritz Keller has been nominated to head the German Football Association (DFB) and succeed the discredited Reinhard Grindel, who stepped down in April.
On Thursday the selection committee of the DFB stated that it unanimously endorsed Keller to become the new president of the organisation. His nomination paves the way for his election at the DFB’s general meeting at the end of September.
“Fritz Keller is without doubt an extraordinary personality who possesses all of the qualities required for the office of DFB president,” said DFB Vice President Rainer Koch, a member of the selection committee, in a statement. “We are convinced that he is the right man for the future of the DFB.”
In April Grindel resigned after scrutiny over income he had received from a DFB subsidiary and a luxury watch he had been given by Ukrainian businessman and football administrator Grigory Surkis. Grindel also resigned from his UEFA and FIFA roles. Earlier this month Wolfgang Niersbach and Theo Zwanziger were indicted in Switzerland over a payment for the 2006 World Cup, casting further shadow over the leadership function at the DFB.
The Germans will be hoping that the 62-year old Keller can clean up the DFB’s act. Keller has been the president of Freiburg since 2010 and his club has gained a reputation as an exciting developer of young players. They finished 13th in the Bundesliga table last season.
Keller is also a member of the supervisory board of the German Football League (DFL). He owns a hotel and winery in the Freiburg area.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713565547labto1713565547ofdlr1713565547owedi1713565547sni@o1713565547fni1713565547