Before his time at the DFB Reinhard Grindel was not just a Member of Parliament. From 1992 to 2002 he worked as an editor at ZDF, most recently as head of the Brussels office. Whether he has a right of return to the station from this time is controversial. However, Grindel himself seems to be able to imagine that after his resignation as DFB president. He is said to have auditioned in any case at ZDF director Thomas Bellut in the matter.

Bellut himself has not yet decided on the question. Internally, however, he has made it clear that he rejects Grindel's return to his old post. A journalistic activity of the ex-DFB chiefs would be out of the question for him. It was unimaginable that Grindel commented on sports or politics for ZDF.

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The ZDF also commissioned a report to clarify the legal issues, confirmed a ZDF spokesman. Members of the Bundestag have a right of return in certain circumstances, if they have previously worked in public broadcasters, for example. For Grindel, it is questionable whether this right still exists. According to ZDF spokesman, the result of the report is expected for the next few days and then made a decision.

Today, it was also announced that Grindel renounces his offices with the international football organizations Uefa and Fifa.