February 1 – Austrian football has been plunged into disarray with the resignation of FA president Gerhard Millitech with immediate effect.
The 66-year-old, who only took over in October 2021, was recently criticised for using his role as the country’s top football official to attract advertisers for his publishing house.
Millitech is said to have been questioned by FA’s ethics committee last Friday and offered his resignation on Tuesday.
According to the statutes, in the event of a president’s resignation, his vice-presidents take over temporarily and there are four.
In a statement, Millitech said he was stepping down “due to the massive negative media campaign and the internal attacks against me.”
“This withdrawal is to protect my private and business environment and is intended to avert further damage to the ÖFB. Because the media prejudice of the last few months and the personal attacks of some members of the executive committee have not only severely damaged my reputation, but also the public image of the ÖFB.”
“At the same time, however, I expressly state that I have never abused my honorary position as ÖFB President. In hindsight, I would have conducted some communications a little differently from today’s perspective. Nevertheless, I have always acted in the interests of the ÖFB and Austrian football and therefore have nothing to blame myself for.
“However, since, despite my efforts to fully and transparently clarify all allegations, and the hostilities of some members of the Executive Committee were not curbed, I ultimately had no choice but to resign my position.”
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