They threaten to withdraw

Sponsors are putting more and more pressure on the ÖFB

Wolfgang Bartosch with Thomas Hollerer, Bernhard Neuhold and Johann Gartner(Bild: GEPA)

The pressure is growing! Seven important ÖFB sponsors have now sent a letter to the election committee chairman Martin Mutz (Carinthia) and his deputy Josef Geisler (Tyrol) demanding an external person as the future president of the soccer association. 

The first threat issued by Raiffeisen was just the beginning. On Thursday, the chairmen of the election committee of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB), Martin Mutz and Josef Geisler, received a letter from six other sponsors (Coca-Cola, Admiral, Magenta, Transdanubia, Verbund, Österreichische Lotterien), who are also threatening to pull out if the ÖFB does not elect a president who meets their expectations in the upcoming election on May 18.

Specifically, they are calling for an "external replacement, outstanding management qualities, national and international experience (knowledge of English, leadership qualities), a clear understanding of honorary office (strategy, controlling, representation - not operational business) and a good understanding of soccer in grassroots and top-level sport."

Roland Schmid(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Hot rumors
Names are not mentioned, but Roland Schmid and Kurt Svoboda, who have been rumored recently, fit this profile. While the current president Wolfgang Bartosch is to be urged not to stand as a candidate on May 18. To be continued ...