- Title: SOCCER-FIFA/DFB REACTION German FA demands FIFA president Blatter's resignation
- Date: 28th May 2015
- Summary: ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (MAY 28, 2015) (REUTERS) PEOPLE IN HOTEL LOBBY (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH (pron.: NEERS-buck), SAYING: "It's time for a change, definitely. (Q: Is he corrupt?) I mean no. But it's time for change. It's not a question if he is in some cases, if he is guilty or not guilty, involved or not involved. It's time for change because we need FIFA as an institution with credibility, with integrity and that is difficult, maybe impossible to rewin these values if you don't have a change at the top." PEOPLE IN LOBBY (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH, SAYING: "Everyone who is able to think straight must realise that this is an absolute PR disaster for soccer. What it comes down to is the question of how we can turn the corner, beyond the necessary investigation. It is my personal belief that this won't be possible if there is no change at the top of FIFA." CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH, SAYING: "When you look at the worldwide coverage I don't think anyone can stay untouched. So I saw the possibility that Sepp Blatter would free the way but this did not happen so tomorrow, we will have a situation where he as the incumbent will run against the only contestant, Prince Ali.' WOMAN IN LOBBY IN DISCUSSION (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH, (ASKED: DAVID GILL SAID IF BLATTER IS REELECTED, HE WON'T JOIN THE FIFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. ARE YOU PLANNING A SIMILAR STEP?), SAYING: "David (Gill) is a good friend of mine. He just informed me about it and I will admit that I am fighting an inner battle right now. I have discussed it with (DFL president) Reinhard Rauball and (DFB General Secretary) Helmut Sandrock. It's a question of pondering: do I boycott something or do I join the executive committee to then have the chance to change something." PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH, SAYING: "Whatever the outcome of the congress and the vote tomorrow might be, we have agreed with UEFA that we will get together concerning the Champions League final in Berlin to analyse the situation again." LOBBY ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH, SAYING: "At this moment I'm saying, who would have an advantage if I said today: "I won't accept the vote. The vote took place in Vienna and I won't accept the mandate". Quite honestly, that's a difficult question but I want to think about it first and discuss it with my people at the DFB." LOBBY ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (DFB), WOLFGANG NIERSBACH, (ASKED: WAS THERE A PLAN B TO HOLD ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AND NEW ELECTIONS?) SAYING: "Today (at the meeting) the majority was of the opinion to leave it at the present situation. But one must know that a change of agenda must be approved by the congress so you're facing the same question: is there a majority or is there not." PEOPLE IN LOBBY
- Embargoed: 12th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Switzerland
- City:
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABYM98DK1HUKB5IVPKSRNB3DA7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The German football association (DFB) called for the resignation of FIFA president Joseph Blatter on Thursday (May 28), one day after the world's most popular sport was plunged into turmoil as seven senior soccer officials were arrested on U.S. corruption charges and faced extradition from Switzerland.
DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach (pron.: NEERS-buck) told reporters in Zurich "it's time for a change, definitely," when asked about Blatter's attempt to be reelected on Friday (May 29).
"It's time for change because we need FIFA as an institution with credibility, with integrity and that is difficult, maybe impossible to rewin these values if you don't have a change at the top," Niersbach said.
Asked whether Niersbach planned to take a similar step like former Manchester United chief executive David Gill who said he would reject a seat in FIFA's executive committee if Blatter was reelected, the German said he was not yet sure.
"It's a question of pondering: do I boycott something or do I join the executive committee to then have the chance to change something," Niersbach said.
The arrests in a dawn raid at a five-star Zurich hotel mark an unprecedented blow against soccer's governing body FIFA, which for years has been dogged by allegations of corruption but always escaped major criminal cases. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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