By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – A critical book by ex-German Football Association (DFB) President Theo Zwanziger is causing outrage among his peers especially since he has only recently become an important member of FIFA’s top brass.
In the book just released, Zwanziger, who has taken over from Franz Beckenbauer as a member of the FIFA executive committee, details previously unpublished material relating to his former employers at the DFB.
In one instance, he denounces his successor Wolfgang Niersbach for promoting a German team visit to the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz just prior to 2012 UEFA European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Zwanziger also reveals that the DFB had a back-up plan for national team coach prior to the 2006 World Cup which the country hosted.
Following a 4-1 friendly defeat to Italy before the tournament there were talks, he says, about replacing Juergen Klinsmann with Matthias Sammer if necessary, even during the tournament itself.
In the end Klinsmann, the current United States coach, led Germany to the semi-finals.
“We … do not appreciate that Theo Zwanziger revealed important internal information,” Reinhard Rauball (pictured above), head of the German Football League (DFL) and is President of Borussia Dortmund, was quoted as saying.
“We have to ask the question whether this is appropriate for a former DFB President and a still active member of the FIFA executive committee.”
“The league board believes it should be possible to have confidential talks without fearing that they will appear in a book.”
Zwanziger, who took over as President of the DFB in 2006 but was replaced this year amid considerable acrimony, also in his book denounced Bayern Munich supremo Uli Hoeness who, in turn, has hit back.
“This is nothing new, I always knew he was a poor President,” said Hoeness.
Former Germany captain Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, now leading the European Club Association, also comes in for criticism but has responded: “One thing I can say is that I won’t wait until after my career is over and then put it all in a book.
“Anything I have to say to anyone I will say in the here and now.”
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