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Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - After his last appearance as DFB President, Fritz Keller left the association headquarters in Frankfurt without judgment on his Nazi settlement.

The ethics chamber of the sports court of the German Football Association, chaired by Hans E. Lorenz, postponed the decision in the proceedings against the DFB boss on demand.

"A decision can be expected in the middle of next week," said Lorenz after the roughly three and a half hour non-public hearing.

Regardless of the verdict of the committee, which had met for the first time, Keller is likely to step down next Monday, as announced, from the office he took over in September 2019.

Under the pressure of massive public criticism and the vote of no confidence by the heads of the state and regional associations, the 64-year-old had already declared on Tuesday that he was “fundamentally willing” to withdraw after the proceedings had been concluded.

It was not initially expected that the adjournment of the verdict would have any impact on this timetable.

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In a dark suit and with a mouth and nose protection that complies with the Corona rules, Keller appeared at the hearing, which was about his statements against DFB Vice President Rainer Koch at the presidium meeting on April 23.

Keller had referred to Koch as "Freisler".

Roland Freisler was chairman of the People's Court under National Socialism.

«It was very important to him to present his point of view in front of an objective body.

It was very important for him to be able to do this, ”said Keller's lawyer Christoph Schickhardt.

"He was very touched and affected by the circumstances of the past few weeks."

The DFB ethics committee had advised on the statement and submitted its result to the sports court for decision.

Keller had stated that he would take responsibility before the sports court.

Before the three-person committee, the DFB boss presented his point of view in what, according to Schickhardt, was very trustworthy. “We were heard exactly what we had to say about the allegations and the circumstances.

The general conditions in the DFB were also discussed in detail, "reported the lawyer, adding:" Even in football, you need familiar rooms in which you can speak openly.

Where you can criticize without something being pierced right away.

Fritz Keller enjoyed that.

We are extremely satisfied with the way the negotiation went and the quality of the court and the questions asked. "

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Keller also expressly emphasized at the meeting that he was concerned with protecting DFB employees and that the association had to calm down.

The problems at the DFB are not in the engine room, but on the bridge.

Like Keller, his opponents in the quarreling Presidium - General Secretary Friedrich Curtius, Vice President Rainer Koch and Treasurer Stephan Osnabrügge - draw consequences.

Curtius is negotiating a termination of the contract.

Koch and Osnabrügge will no longer stand for re-election in their current posts at the next Bundestag, which is to be brought forward to early 2022.

But Koch is to take over the DFB leadership for the third time together with the second first Vice-President Peter Peters, if Keller has resigned.

After the new elections, "my participation as the liable board member of the DFB is definitely over for me," Koch announced in the ARD sports show.

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Nevertheless, the 62-year-old, who is also President of the Bavarian and South German Association, could continue to mix in the DFB Presidium. The prerequisite for this would be a nomination as a simple vice-president, said Koch of the "Frankfurter Rundschau". It remains to be seen whether he would take up the post.

The state of the association continues to worry other makers in German football.

Managing Director Max Eberl of Borussia Mönchengladbach demanded a fresh start in view of the DFB leadership crisis.

"We have to find fresh new people in German football who are no longer entangled in power struggles - and instead finally tackle the important issues that will accompany football," said Eberl in an interview with "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" .

As a club, Borussia Mönchengladbach can currently “no longer identify with the DFB”.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210514-99-601127 / 4

Communication from May 13th

Communication dated May 11th

German Football Association

DFB Presidium

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DFB board

DFB statutes