"Corona has worn me out"

Created: 02/09/2022, 1:00 p.m

By: Olaf Heid

Florian Riepl makes his office available.

© Martin Kuebelsbeck

The professional and family burden was simply too great for Florian Riepl from Altenerding.

District – The chairman of the Donau/Isar football district has made his office available and ensured a short-term personnel change at the Bavarian Football Association (BFV).

"I need the break," confirms the 37-year-old when asked.

"Corona has worn me down."

Professionally - the Altenerdinger runs a farm - the hobby was simply no longer feasible.

Not to mention the strain on his young family, which has suffered greatly from his absences, explains Florian Riepl, who has two children (1 and 3 years old).

The amount of time that he had to spend on weekends as a functionary in the car and on the football fields in the district, which extends up to Eichstätt, would no longer work.

"The work at the BFV has become significantly more since Corona.

There were many more inquiries, and the League Cup also had to be managed,” Riepl explains his resignation.

At times it was a "phone madness" and he could hardly get away from the cell phone.

Nevertheless, he does not part in resentment.

On the contrary.

"Volunteering is something nice," emphasizes the Altenerdinger.

“I worked extremely well with the association and the group, with everyone.

I can't say anything negative." But the effort was enormous for him, the "corona fatigue" got the upper hand.

So now his farewell, which had been planned for the district council first planned for January.

"20 years as a referee, chairman and now chairman are enough." In 2011 Riepl (SpVgg Altenerding) started his official career as an assessor in the referee committee of the Erding group, which he chaired from 2012 to 2017 before he succeeded Horst Kaindl ( BC Uttenhofen) took over as chairman of the Donau/Isar district.

Riepl was awarded the BFV association pin in 2021 for its commitment to amateur football.

The ex-district chairman Horst Kaindl will temporarily take over the leadership in the Donau/Isar district.

© BFV

His predecessor, who had already led the district as chairman until 2017, will take over the helm on an interim basis with immediate effect.

The experienced functionary Kaindl will be in charge of organizing the district council in Moosburg, which has been rescheduled for March 29th and at which a new Donau/Isar boss will then be elected.

The BFV Presidium has already approved the change by circulation.

"Florian Riepl asked me to relieve him of his duties as district chairman, as the organization of the district council unfortunately cannot be reconciled with his professional obligations at the moment," explains Robert Schraudner, district chairman in Upper Bavaria and BFV vice president.

He complied with this request, especially since Riepl "would have made his office available anyway and Horst Kaindl is a man with great experience who has already successfully prepared several district councils," says Schraudner.

The Altenerdinger will withdraw, but remain connected to football and, for example, continue to follow his former clubs closely.

He will definitely support the honorary district chairman Kaindl in preparing for the district council and the election, he emphasizes. "I hope to be able to do a few more awards," says Riepl.

But now it's time for the family man to take a break - first of all: "In five years it can be different again."