ÖFB session: Who will be the next head of interior in the football association?

ÖFB session: Who will be the next head of interior in the football association?

The mood in the ÖFB could not be tense, because on Friday there is a significant presidium meeting. After Klaus Mitterdorfer's resignation eight days ago, those responsible for the Austrian Football Association are required to find an interim president. According to the current statutes, only the four vice presidents come into question: Josef Geisler from Tyrol, Johann Gartner from Lower Austria, Gerhard Götschhofer from Upper Austria and Philip Thonhauser from the Bundesliga.

The choice of the new head of interim could encounter difficulties, since each of the four vice presidents may not be able to win enough votes - seven votes. The motivation of the vice presidents, especially Geisler, Götschhofer and Thonhauser, is uncertain whether they really want to be available for the office. Johann Gartner, who already acted as an interim president in spring 2023, caused additional problems due to his statements about boycotted topics from some players. These circumstances leave the possibility that a president will be elected outside the Vice President.

considerations to advance the general meeting

in the Vienna Hotel, where the meeting takes place, is not only discussed about the succession of Mitterdorfer. The possibility of a preliminary laying of the Federal General Meeting, which is planned for May 18, 2025 in Bregenz, is also on the agenda. The new ÖFB President should then be elected at this meeting. So it could also be that a chairman will be nominated for the election committee on Friday.

The session is of greater importance than the previously canceled extraordinary presidium meeting and has been eagerly awaited for some time. From the agenda items, the appointment of an interim president is only one of many. In addition, financial matters, the Situation of those responsible such as Thomas Hollerer, the ÖFB general secretary, and Bernhard Neuhold, the managing director, and the structural reform initiated by Mitterdorfer are dealt with. The Bundesliga representatives in particular have planned to present a detailed concept to clarify the upcoming questions.

In another point, there is talk about the open discussion on the direct rose from the regional league into the 2nd league, in which a working group was used to further examine the topic.