Herman Winkler Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
The Berlin Football Association has distanced itself from the disrespectful remarks made by NOFV President Hermann Winkler about Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Berlin Football Association has distanced itself from the disrespectful remarks made by NOFV President Hermann Winkler about Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The statements that Hermann Winkler made in his Instagram post on Sunday defame the President of Ukraine and are therefore not in line with the position of the Berlin Football Association and the values that we represent as an association,” became BFV President Bernd Schultz quoted in a written statement on Monday.
Bernd Schultz, President of the Berlin Football Association Photo: Michael Hundt/dpa
“Our values are different,” the head of the association had previously told the German Press Agency: “You don’t attack a personality like a president like that.”
Winkler is head of the Northeast German Football Association, to which the Berlin association belongs. In an Instagram post on Sunday, he described Zelenskyj as a “former Ukrainian actor”. Winkler cited his visit to Berlin as the reason for the disruption to tourists. On Monday, the former politician apologized via Facebook “for this and also for the irritation caused”.
BFV boss Schultz emphasized: “By implementing fundraisers and the uncomplicated inclusion of refugees in training and game operations, the Berlin Football Association and its member clubs have actively demonstrated solidarity with the people affected in Ukraine.”
The matter will be discussed further at a conference of regional and state association presidents, announced DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf after a phone call with Winkler, who is also DFB vice president. The top German football official condemned Winkler’s disparaging remarks sharply.