By Andrew Warshaw
March 23 – German football has a new general secretary as it endeavours to tackle the fallout from the 2006 World Cup corruption controversy.
Legally trained Friedrich Curtius, (pictured) who has worked at the DFB for a decade, replaces Helmut Sandrock, who resigned ahead of the publication of the Freshfields report into the 2006 bid process and is one of six senior former officials now facing ethics proceedings.
Curtius will be officially sworn in at an extraordinary meeting of the DFB board in Frankfurt on April 15.
Treasurer Reinhard Grindel commented: “Through his legal training, Friedrich brings another requirement for the management of central administration and he also has excellent international contacts with UEFA and FIFA.”
Meanwhile, German fans hoping to watch their side at the Euros in France must first have to join the official fan club, hiking up ticket prices by an additional €40.
The DFB’s decision to combine ticket sales with membership, which cost €10 to join and a €30 annual fee, has angered fans.
Germany’s federal cartel office has launched an investigation into scheme, another unwanted headache for the German FA. “Acquiring Euro 2016 tickets is already difficult for football fans as not everyone requesting a ticket gets one,” cartel office president Andreas Mundt said in a statement.
“If you couple the possibility of acquiring a ticket with paid fan club membership then not only is the price is increased but in case of not being awarded a ticket one still has to pay the membership fee.”
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