Frankfurt/Main (dpa) – Jimmy Hartwig has heavily criticized the German Football Association and called for a leadership role in the association.
“I now expect the new DFB president to give Jimmy Hartwig a management position for what I’ve been doing for nine years. I no longer want to be the DFB’s command recipient,” said the DFB fair play ambassador to the pay TV broadcaster sky.
The 61-year-old also complained about how he was treated in the run-up to the new Bundestag elections on March 11 in Bonn, for which Hartwig had initially announced a candidacy last year. He then received a call from the DFB asking him to withdraw his application. Otherwise, his documentary series “Jimmy on the road” would be discontinued on DFB-TV. When he asked why, he received the answer: “Because we don’t advertise anyone in our house who wants to become president of the DFB.”
Hartwig reported that although he complied with the request and withdrew his candidacy, the program was discontinued. This was justified with the exit of the sponsor (VW). “My inquiries about this all came to nothing,” said Hartwig.