BERLIN, Germany, Apr 2 – The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Reinhard Grindel confirmed on Tuesday that he had stepped down with immediate effect, ending three controversial years in charge.

The 57-year-old has been under growing pressure following controversies culminating in a newspaper report on Monday that he had accepted the gift of a 6,000 euro (Sh677,000) watch from Hryhoriy Surkis, a UEFA vice-president and honorary president of the Ukrainian football federation.

“I am stepping down from the position of DFB president, and I apologise for my less than exemplary behaviour regarding my acceptance of a watch,” said Grindel.

Surkis sat alongside Grindel on the executive committee of European football’s governing body UEFA until last February. Yet Grindel denied that he had been given the watch for political reasons.

“For me this was an entirely private gift which I was bound to accept out of politeness,” he said.

“I did not have any idea how expensive the watch was and it was a grave oversight on my part not to find out. In doing so, I could have avoided the impression that I was acting inappropriately.”

Grindel said that Surkis had “no economic interest in the DFB”.

“I am deeply shaken to have to give up my role as DFB president over such an issue,” Grindel said.

“I ask myself: why has this happened? I can only say that I was completely convinced that I was doing nothing wrong and that, in the stress of my position, I did not question myself enough.”

Grindel’s resignation was welcomed by former Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaeus.

“The DFB have made some bad judgements under Grindel’s leadership in the last few months. A new face is urgently needed,” Matthaeus told Sky.

Former DFB president Theo Zwanziger, meanwhile, said the presidency, which is a nominally voluntary role, must be reformed.

“The DFB is unbelievably important and it needs its leadership to be unassailable,” Zwanziger told RP Online.

“With the amount of work it involves, the presidency should be a full-time position with an appropriate salary,” Zwanziger told RP Online.

“Everything else is hypocritical and leads to a lack of transparency.”

– Mesut Ozil scandal –

A former journalist and member of the German parliament for the centre-right CDU party, Grindel had been president of the DFB since 2015.

In recent months, he oversaw Germany’s successful bid to host Euro 2024, but also came under fierce criticism for his handling of various scandals.

He was singled out by Mesut Ozil, who accused Grindel of overseeing a culture of institutional racism, when the Arsenal midfielder retired from international duty last July.

“In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” wrote Ozil in his explosive resignation statement.

Grindel has also come under increasing fire from the media in recent weeks.

In March, he broke off an interview with broadcaster Deutsche Welle after refusing to answer questions about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On Friday, magazine Der Spiegel alleged that Grindel had kept quiet about 78,000 Euros (Sh8.8mn) of income which he had received from a DFB subsidiary in 2016 and 2017.

The DFB responded with a statement saying Grindel had declared all his income correctly.

On Tuesday, the association confirmed that vice-presidents Rainer Koch and Reinhard Rauball would take over as joint interim presidents until Grindel’s successor is elected.

Bild has already named ex-Germany and Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder, 38, as a possible replacement.

Former Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has ruled himself out of the running, saying that he had “no interest” in the presidency.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Ten-man Manchester United crash at Wolves

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Wednesday, 3rd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Fulham relegated from the Premier Leaguern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Sarri set to give Hudson-Odoi first Premier League startrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Pochettino gives backing to under-fire Llorisrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn German FA president resigns over watch giftrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn African great Toure blasts football chiefs over racismrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 11 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn No debate between Courtois and Navas next season – Zidanern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Van Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Gor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Chebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Logarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Kisumu County to host 2019 Elgon Cuprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Ethiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Super Obiri sizzles to World Cross goldrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Fulham relegated from the Premier League

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sarri set to give Hudson-Odoi first Premier League start

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pochettino gives backing to under-fire Lloris

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

German FA president resigns over watch gift

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

African great Toure blasts football chiefs over racism

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

No debate between Courtois and Navas next season – Zidane

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Arsenal sinks Newcastle to move third

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

There no point resting Messi, says Valverde

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spurs

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculation

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ten-man Manchester United crash at Wolvesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 3rd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Fulham relegated from the Premier Leaguern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Mwalala out to halt Bandari downward spiralrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn No pressure for Wazito ahead of Ushuru clashrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Sarri set to give Hudson-Odoi first Premier League startrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tVan Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 28th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLogarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKisumu County to host 2019 Elgon Cuprn

rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEthiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSuper Obiri sizzles to World Cross goldrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ten-man Manchester United crash at Wolvesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 3rd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Fulham relegated from the Premier Leaguern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Mwalala out to halt Bandari downward spiralrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn No pressure for Wazito ahead of Ushuru clashrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Sarri set to give Hudson-Odoi first Premier League startrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */