German soccer chief Zwanziger wins vote of confidence

German football president Theo Zwanziger on Friday received a unanimous vote of confidence from his board after coming under pressure over a refereeing affair.

Speaking to reporters in Frankfurt after the German Soccer Association (DFB) board vote, Zwanziger expressed contentment with the outcome.

"I am very satisfied and was happy about the confidence from the board," he said. "Despite the problems, I still really want to do this job."

Zwanziger was caught up in a scandal that has rocked the DFB and had led him to consider resigning over the matter.

The DFB last month confirmed allegations by four referees that Manfred Amerell, a former member of the association's referee panel, had sexually harassed them. The association has since also passed the referees' statements on to prosecutors.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Amerell has strongly denied he sexually harassed anyone

Amerell has strongly denied the allegations, and has sued Michael Kempter, one of the four complaining referees.

The DFB has also sued Amerell for defamation in reference to comments he made this week heavily criticizing Zwanziger's conduct.

Support across the board

Reports in the German media of Zwanziger considering resignation led several of his colleagues to come to his support. Bundesliga President Reinhard Rauball said the soccer league was "100 percent behind what Zwanziger has done," and DFB board member Franz Beckenbauer said the case was not worth resigning over.

Asked if Zwanziger had made mistakes in handling the scandal, Beckenbauer said it was a "tricky situation."

"Maybe the DFB would have been better advised to hand this affair over to prosecutors immediately, but that can be absolutely no reason for Zwanziger to resign," he said. "German soccer needs Theo Zwanziger."

acb/dpa/SID
Editor: Rob Turner