Kicker Report: German league body prepares to dismiss current CEO
In what would constitute a major administrative shake-up in German football, Germany's preeminent footballing publication reports that the DFL may be preparing to sack CEO Donata Hopfen over Christmas.
| Donata Hopfen presenting Manuel Neuer with the 2022 Super Cup trophy | Steffen Prößdorf CC-BY-SA 4.0 |
Expectations on Seifert's successor were naturally very high. Hopfen was expected to take clear stances on the eternal 50+1 debates, build solid relations with the German federal government's Bundeskartelamt (Germany's business competition and anti-trust body), and lead an effort to fully digitalize all of the league's scheduling and international commitments ahead of a new global media rights package due to be negotiated in the summer of 2025.
Rainer Franzke of Germany's preeminent footballing publication, Kicker Magazine, writes that high ranking emissaries on the DFL's board (among them Dortmund boss Hans-Joachim Watzke) feel that she has fallen behind in these duties. Furthermore, Franzke writes that morale at DFL headquarters in Frankfurt is considered to be at rock bottom. There have reportedly been a wave of resignations over the past few months.
Terminating Hopfen's contract nearly two years ahead of schedule will obviously cost the German League body quite a bit in severance fees. As the DFL supervisory board prepares to meet this week, the question of whether this course-correction will be too expensive or ultimately economical will obviously be discussed. Frankze seems to nevertheless suggest that the decision has already been made.
Asked herself what level of support she had received from her colleagues during an October 31st interview with the magazine, Hopfen replied (as per Franzke something of a laugh) that "more is always possible". Should Hopfen be released, the German FA (DFB) will also find itself in need of a new vice president.
