The new DFB managing director Andreas Rettig reacted calmly to criticism, particularly from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “I have acknowledged that I not necessarily FC Bayern’s preferred candidate was,” said Rettig during his presentation to the German Football Association on Monday.
“I know the strained relationship. We will need FC Bayern, it is the most important club. It’s no use if we divide ourselves here.”
Before announcing his new position on Friday morning, he tried to contact “Mr Hoeneß and Mr Rummenigge”. “I haven’t achieved either. I spoke to Mr. Hoeneß on the voicemail and wrote a text message to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and received no response,” said Rettig about his efforts.
Rummenigge, a member of the supervisory board at Bayern, and Oliver Mintzlaff, chairman of the supervisory board of RB Leipzig, announced their resignation from the DFB task force on Sunday. The task force was not involved in important DFB decisions and in some cases was not even informed, criticized Rummenigge and explicitly named Rettig’s personnel.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf emphasized on Monday that the task force never had the authority to make decisions, but was convened as an advisory body. He spoke to Mintzlaff and Rummenigge on the phone after their explanation. “The DFB is not a club”said Neuendorf. “Not once has there been a desire in this committee to talk about the sports management.”