Dispute over ÖFB presidential election: Götschhofer is protest!

Dispute over ÖFB presidential election: Götschhofer is protest!

Wien, Österreich - The choice of Wolfgang Bartosch as President of the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) is on the brink. Gerhard Götschhofer, the Upper Austrian Vice President, has announced that he would object to the election at the appeal. This reported, among other things, the ORF, where Götschhofer made it clear: "It is both in my interest and in the service of the matter that the responsible body is examined." This legal discussion raises questions about the legality of the election after Klaus Mitterdorfer had resigned.

The ÖFB statutes stipulate that one of the four vice presidents-which also includes Götschhofer-should take over the presidency interim after the assignment of the office. Instead, the statutes were changed, which allowed Bartosch to be elected. Bartosch received ten out of twelve votes from this, while Götschhofer received only three votes. The change was justified with a paragraphic reference, which allows statutes to be changed outside if "danger in delay" is what the ÖFB general secretaries considered legal to prevent a vote if Göschhofer had taken over. According to Götschhofer, however, this decision is a "statute break" that cannot be tolerated, as it can be tolerated to the Kicker emphasized.

Legal steps announced

In an unprecedented turn, Götschhofer announced that he would go to the Lesser Senate without hesitation. The allegations of him are not personally directed against Bartosch, but apply to the integrity of the office: "My legal heart is doing. I will not accept that." He described the allegations against the processes of the General Assembly, where the amendment to the statutes was decided, as serious legal misconduct that could have a significant impact on the largest sports association in Austria. Bartosch, on the other hand, was supported in his election by the general secretary of the ÖFB, which vehemently defends its legitimacy. The fate of the ÖFB Presidium could soon be on the social and legal agenda, whereby the immediate consequences are expected before Christmas.