After the German World Cup, Tabea Kemme feared that the DFB would resolve the debacle without external expertise. The association’s task force now presented consists of well-known men – and that triggers criticism. DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf appeased.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has defended the composition of the new panel of experts at the German Football Association without a proportion of women. “We decided on these names. What’s interesting is the result,” not the names that were discussed, he said. “This is about the future development of the men’s national team and all of these people that we have nominated have a connection to the national team.”
The group of experts led by Neuendorf (61) and DFB Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke (63) are made up of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (67), Rudi Völler (62), Oliver Kahn (53), Matthias Sammer (55) and Oliver Mintzlaff (47). “Many were players, they know the association, the men’s national team. It’s very important that such ‘know-how’ is represented here,” said Neuendorf. The committee is to advise on the future of the DFB selection and the future occupation of the post of former managing director Oliver Bierhoff. The DFB could “not make a huge circle, I think that’s too much,” added the DFB President. “We had to limit and narrow it down. I think the people we’re talking about here are beyond doubt.”
Criticism of the composition of the body had arisen on social media, especially because it consists only of men. Before the announcement, the former national player Tabea Kemme, who is currently working as a World Cup expert on MagentaTV, warned against such a compilation. After the preliminary round, she called for the DFB-Elf to involve the footballers themselves – and to use external expertise.
“It’s about us active players – and not with us. We must not underestimate the momentum of this football cosmos,” said Kemme about a week ago. “You don’t get other people who might question what kind of nonsense we sometimes do.” Everyone at the DFB has to ask themselves: “Am I doing a position because I really want the position? Or do I do the position because of something for which I have expertise? Everyone responsible has the answer. Whether they want to say it , is the other question.” Words similar to those used at the time by Kemme (“Kluengelrunde”) were now to be found in the criticism of the task force’s relatively undiversified composition.
