The encounter
A decision that Austria’s footballers apparently do not want to accept. They probably told the ÖFB leadership directly on Monday evening that they weren’t completely stupid. The team council met at that time David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic, Konrad Laimer and Marcel Sabitzer in Vienna with the President Klaus Mitterdorfer and his four deputies.
What came out of it remains secret. The COURIER has with President Mitterdorfer just as in demand as with the vice presidents Hans Gartner and Sepp Geisler. The answer is always the same: “It was agreed not to maintain confidentiality.”
Research by the Salzburg News have shown that Alaba and colleagues are also thinking of boycotting the sponsorship dates mentioned above, they should not be heard.
The fact is that a corresponding agreement between the players and the ÖFB regarding marketing appearances like the one on Monday expires at the end of the year. This was negotiated with Bernhard Neuholdwhich will no longer be there in the future. A new agreement would therefore have to be agreed with the successor before the start of the World Cup qualification in March.
The consequences would be far-reaching
In any case, the players are apparently in no hurry. You could charge significantly more or concentrate entirely on kicking in the future and decide together not to do any more marketing appointments. The amount that they would miss out on would be particularly bearable for the bosses in the team. Alaba, Arnautovic and Co. are selling far below their value – out of solidarity with the ÖFB.
But it is the players who will draw more than 40,000 fans to the Ernst Happel Stadium next Sunday when the temperatures are just below zero – against Slovenia. And they are the ones who encourage sponsors to support the ÖFB. “Their popular faces are essential for activation in classic advertising,” says one The sponsor representswho wants to remain anonymous, to the KURIER.
The marketing expert is hearing growing dissatisfaction among sponsor representatives of the ÖFB about the image that the ÖFB presents to the outside world. “Many people are worried because the behavior is intolerable at the moment and has been going on for months. But the team’s success is still covering up a lot at the moment.” Without the players, in any case, one would have to “reassess” one’s commitment as a sponsor. An essential pillar would be missing.”
Those who concentrate on kicking all day should also know this.