Gianni Infantino was confirmed on Thursday (March 16th, 2023) at the FIFA Congress in Kigali for another four years as president of the world football association FIFA. Without the support of the German Football Association (DFB) and some other associations from Europe.
The protest by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf was invisible at the FIFA Congress. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, former DFB President Theo Zwanziger praised the attitude of his successor, Neuendorf.
The DFB President, according to Zwanziger, showed: “We have character. There are things that are wrong for us. You have to look at this from the current point of view, and it is very clear: the decision of the DFB President , of the entire DFB, deserves respect.”
Zwanziger about Neuendorf: “A clear signal”
Precisely because Neuendorf had to show his attitude openly, in a small minority, he had shown courage, said Zwanziger. “That’s important. I very much agree with Bernd Neuendorf’s attitude. This clear signal from the DFB President is enough for me by saying: This is not FIFA the way we want it to be. That’s a sign. Very much I don’t think you could expect much more from anyone in this situation.”
Zwanziger emphasized that the DFB lacked the support in the world association for a clearer signal against Infantino and his administration. “One should have had the courage, at least within UEFA, to come up with an opponent early on who would have had the chance to present themselves in other confederations. That didn’t work.”
In view of the power constellation within the world association, the DFB should not make the mistake of shying away from a critical positioning within FIFA in the future – even if the DFB is currently applying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Having to work with the power structures in FIFA involves a lot of risks, says Zwanziger. However, Bernd Neuendorf is self-confident enough to represent the position of the DFB in the FIFA Council and strive for improvements.
Zwanziger: The gap between the base and the DFB leadership must be reduced
From Zwanziger’s point of view, the challenges at national level are more important for the DFB anyway. “The DFB isn’t in the right shape at the moment for the gap between the fans, between the grassroots and the management, to narrow again. A lot of china has broken in recent years,” said Zwanziger.
Bernd Neuendorf is on the way to bringing the whole thing back together. If he had behaved tactically and voted for Infantino to increase his chances of winning the Women’s World Cup, he would have been criticized by the German base, Zwanziger estimates:
“I think a lot of football fans see FIFA for what it is. It’s a hypocritical, self-absorbed machine that’s all about power and money. And if the German president just lets himself be bagged there, then that’s what the result will be reflect on the relationship between the German fans and the German football leadership.”
Zwanziger’s dire prognosis: Infantino president for life?
Zwangziger made a gloomy prognosis for Infantino’s renewed term in office. Infantino has completely eliminated all control mechanisms that were created during the tenure of his predecessor Sepp Blatter. In particular, an independent ethics committee by changing people. “This man is on his way to becoming president forever,” Zwanziger prophesied.
In the coming years, Infantino will also question the term limit for the FIFA President installed under Blatter in order to then consolidate his place at FIFA for life “similar to China or North Korea”.
The Swiss have many allies and no real critics in the countries that depend on FIFA’s money. “That’s the Infantino method,” says Zwanziger. “You can call it corruption, but it’s practiced there.”
That’s why it’s all the more important, Zwanziger said to the DFB, not to remain silent about these events: “Even a minority has the duty to open their mouths and not duck away in fear of any risks. That’s the only way you can do something better. Who keep silent, he makes himself an ally of evil.”
