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Rainer Koch
Photo: Simon Hofmann / Getty Images for DFB
The interim president of the German Football Association (DFB), Rainer Koch, is no longer a member of the association's executive committee after 15 years.
In a vote at the Bundestag in Bonn, the controversial official lost surprisingly clearly with 163:68 votes against the sports science professor Silke Sinning.
Koch's critics accuse him of numerous misconduct and involvement in dubious machinations.
The 63-year-old cook, who has been a member of the DFB executive committee since 2007, was seen as the enemy of all those who primarily associate intrigues with the DFB.
Koch himself said that it was “in at the moment” to hit him, but that these were only “general defamatory statements without any facts or substance whatsoever”.
During his long tenure, he had survived various presidents.
Some even assigned him a key role in the failure of these DFB bosses.
The former DFB bosses Theo Zwanziger, Reinhard Grindel and Fritz Keller spoke out this week and once again warned emphatically about "the Koch system".
Koch is "a slit, he lives from intrigue," wrote Keller in the joint statement.
Criticism also after allegations of infidelity against officials
A raid on the DFB last week, which is said to have involved former sports official Friedrich Curtius and treasurer Stephan Osnabrügge, caused negative headlines in the run-up to the DFB Bundestag.
Curtius is being investigated in connection with the ominous contract between the association and former advisor Kurt Diekmann.
It is about the suspicion of infidelity.
Accordingly, investigations are underway against Osnabrugge with a view to income from perimeter advertising at international matches.
It is about the accusation of tax evasion for the benefit of others.
The fact that this was allowed also fell back on Koch.
As the previous 1st Vice President, Koch had led the association on an interim basis three times in the past few years, after Wolfgang Niersbach, Reinhard Grindel and, most recently, Fritz Keller, each resigned prematurely from the office of President.
Sinning belongs to »Team Peters«
Sinning belonged to the team of Peter Peters, who was defeated in the previous election of the new DFB President.
Nevertheless, the sports scientist with a doctorate competed against Koch and won the vote with 163:68 votes.
As a representative of the South German Football Association, Koch will continue to sit on the association's board.
“I didn't expect this result at all.
I wanted to show courage.
Thank you very much for your trust,” said the visibly touched Sinning.
In her application speech, she aggressively campaigned for her election and received a lot of applause for it.
Koch, on the other hand, mainly referred to previously made agreements and also expressed criticism of the rival, which was not well received by a number of delegates.
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