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DFB's Helmut Sandrock quits the same day as FIFA elections

February 26, 2016

On the day when the football world’s attention was focused on the election of a new FIFA President, the German Football Association (DFB) developed further leadership issues of their own.

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Deutschland Helmut Sandrock DFB Generalsekretär
Helmut Sandrock resigned from his post on the same day as the FIFA Presidential elections.Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/D. Kopatsch

Helmut Sandrock, general secretary of the DFB. has resigned from his post on Friday, citing the opportunity for the organization to start with a clean slate as the reason for his departure.

"For the good of our football and the DFB it is necessary to make a completely new start in a credible and consequent manner, even in matters of personnel," Sandrock said in a DFB statement. “It is just good style and normal to give a newly elected president of the DFB the chance to propose a new General Secretary for election.”

Sandrock has held the position of general secretary since 2012. His resignation not only comes during the FIFA congress in Switzerland, but also the same day a law firm tasked with investigating Germany's 2006 World Cup bid was due to file its report. He had already excused himself from the FIFA congress on health grounds, with DFB officials Reinhard Grindel and Reinhard Rauball attending.

The departing general secretary sent a farewell email to all DFB employees this morning, and the DFB issued a statement noting that he would be missed. "Helmut Sandrock has been a reliable partner, especially in this difficult time," said Rauball.

This resignation follows that of former DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach, who quit in November after it was announced he would be investigated for tax evasion relating to the 2006 World Cup scandal.

The result of the internal investigations into the awarding of the 2006 World Cup are expected to be announced on March 4. Sandrock was part of the tournament’s organizing committee.

mp/dv (dpa, AFP, Reuters)