For the German Football Association (DFB), a fascinating and ultimately successful year is drawing to a close. DFB president Reinhard Grindel takes stock of the year just gone and looks ahead to the one to come - including the World Cup in the summer.
DFB.de: Mr. Grindel, will you be getting some down time after a year that was full of travelling and responsibilities as DFB president?
Reinhard Grindl: Yes actually - I’m going to a little place called Rotenburg an der Wümme with my family and some good friends who we always get together with for New Year celebrations. In between I’ll go to Hamburg to see my mother and my sister. It’s very important to me that I spend some time with my eight-year-old son. He’s at an age now where his father is a very significant person in his life. I think he’s been lacking that a bit recently due to all my travelling, which is quite sad for me.
DFB.de: Will your phone be staying off?
Grindel: It’s never off. It was like that in my time as a member of the German parliament. I’m always available and have to stay up to date with whatever’s relevant for my job and also whatever is interesting to me. I also always have to be ready to deal with any problems when they arise. It’s very hard to step away from the job for 14 days when you’re the president of the DFB.
DFB.de: Looking back, what are your sporting takeaways from 2017?
Grindel: It’s been a good year in terms of our sporting achievements for sure. Our qualification for the World Cup next year with a historic ten wins from ten games was impressive. Additionally, winning the Confederations Cup showed us what we can achieve with a bit of belief and team effort. Our U21 European Championship win was another example of that. It’s very exciting to know that we’ve got a whole new crop of fantastic young talents coming through the ranks. In terms of women’s football, we have to make sure to not lose our status as one of the world’s leading countries in the sport. Other countries have developed a lot recently. I’m confident, however, that they will succeed in achieving their next goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
DFB.de: On the political side of things, there were a few new projects to deal with...
Grindel: I’m very satisfied with our unanimous decision on the construction of a new DFB headquarters and academy. The togetherness that we showed in this decision is evidence of how the whole association is on the same page from top to bottom. Independent from that, I’m slightly concerned with the general tendency for marginal issues to often be over exaggerated in public debates. Living in an age of digital media like we do now means that the general public gets consumed by things that actually don’t hold much sporting political relevance in reality. We have to concentrate on what really matters. That includes maintaining good communication with fan groups, which has helped to calm things in the stadiums recently. It’s not one against the other anymore - that’s the way to go.
DFB.de: Refereeing controversies have been a big issue for the DFB recently. What’s gone wrong?
Grindel: I spoke to a lot of officials at the summer refereeing course in Grassau and made it clear how I wanted them to grow together as a team. I’m firmly convinced that the vast majority of referees want to resolve their differences internally. Anyone who brings such disputes into the public eye is going against that team philosophy as a result.
DFB.de: The DFB and DFL have trialled the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the 2018 World Cup, which has been the subject of many a heated debate recently. Do you recommend its use for the World Cup?
Grindel: I’m for it personally, although I will make it clear to the FIFA council with the German experience in mind that it is vitally important for every official to have a crystal clear understanding of when and where it should be implemented. VAR should only be called upon when a decision has been made that is clearly wrong. The referees must also be be very well prepared for its proper use at the World Cup, just like our own referees will be for the second half of the Bundesliga season. The authority of the referee must be maintained in the World Cup, as it will be in the Bundesliga, for VAR to be implemented fairly. At the same time, I encourage that everyone have patience when dealing with the topic.
DFB.de: The German referees went through an intense training period to be ready before the technology was implemented. Is it really possible to prepare referees from around the world in the same way for the World Cup?
Grindel: I think it’s important that they are. Therefore, FIFA needs to appoint their referees as soon as possible and make it clear to them that VAR will not undermine their ultimate authority. It is only there to be used in a very limited selection of circumstances - rather too little than too much. The technology also needs to be at a level whereby we are not subjected to the long breaks in the game like there were at the Confederations Cup earlier this year.
DFB.de: Looking ahead to 2018 now, when did you start preparing for the World Cup in Russia?
Grindel: At the draw for the group stages. It was a very special moment to experience it all next to Jogi Löw and with the great Pele sitting in front of me. We spoke intensively that evening following the draw about our plans for how to approach the tournament. Honestly, I’ve already got World Cup fever and I’m looking forward to going to Russia. We want to be World Cup winners again.
DFB.de: Is there the possibility that if Germany do manage to win the World Cup again, that it can’t really get any better for the head coach and he’ll stop?
Grindel: I know from speaking to Jogi Löw that he really wants to win the Euros - that’s a title that has eluded him to this point. I also get the impression that he feels very comfortable in his current role. As a result, I don’t really have any concerns about that. It’s a pleasure to see how he succeeds again and again at working with a group of people and forming them into a team that is perfectly prepared for the task at hand.
DFB.de: After the World Cup, it will be decided who will host the 2024 European Championship. How tight is it between the DFB and the Turkish football association?
Grindel: Just like Germany, Turkey have put together a highly professional application. Now it’s up to UEFA’s executive committee to decide. According to their regulations, you cannot talk about another application. We will meticulously adhere to all regulations to make sure that our bid is as good as it can be. It will not only focus on the sport and our ability to organise a major tournament of the calibre of a European Championship, but also other important things such as Fair Play and the ability that football has to unite fans of all backgrounds under one unanimous banner. We have the ability to organise a footballing spectacle for hundreds of thousands of football fans from across Europe; an event that brings people closer together and shows the power of universal values.
DFB.de: Do you have to be concerned that - as so often - applications will be considered less in terms of their quality, but more in terms of backroom politics?
Grindel: I trust that UEFA’s integrity, which everyone involved in the organisation adheres to, will make sure that the most convincing application will be chosen.
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For the German Football Association (DFB), a fascinating and ultimately successful year is drawing to a close. DFB president Reinhard Grindel takes stock of the year just gone and looks ahead to the one to come - including the World Cup in the summer.
DFB.de: Mr. Grindel, will you be getting some down time after a year that was full of travelling and responsibilities as DFB president?
Reinhard Grindl: Yes actually - I’m going to a little place called Rotenburg an der Wümme with my family and some good friends who we always get together with for New Year celebrations. In between I’ll go to Hamburg to see my mother and my sister. It’s very important to me that I spend some time with my eight-year-old son. He’s at an age now where his father is a very significant person in his life. I think he’s been lacking that a bit recently due to all my travelling, which is quite sad for me.
DFB.de: Will your phone be staying off?
Grindel: It’s never off. It was like that in my time as a member of the German parliament. I’m always available and have to stay up to date with whatever’s relevant for my job and also whatever is interesting to me. I also always have to be ready to deal with any problems when they arise. It’s very hard to step away from the job for 14 days when you’re the president of the DFB.
DFB.de: Looking back, what are your sporting takeaways from 2017?
Grindel: It’s been a good year in terms of our sporting achievements for sure. Our qualification for the World Cup next year with a historic ten wins from ten games was impressive. Additionally, winning the Confederations Cup showed us what we can achieve with a bit of belief and team effort. Our U21 European Championship win was another example of that. It’s very exciting to know that we’ve got a whole new crop of fantastic young talents coming through the ranks. In terms of women’s football, we have to make sure to not lose our status as one of the world’s leading countries in the sport. Other countries have developed a lot recently. I’m confident, however, that they will succeed in achieving their next goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
DFB.de: On the political side of things, there were a few new projects to deal with...
Grindel: I’m very satisfied with our unanimous decision on the construction of a new DFB headquarters and academy. The togetherness that we showed in this decision is evidence of how the whole association is on the same page from top to bottom. Independent from that, I’m slightly concerned with the general tendency for marginal issues to often be over exaggerated in public debates. Living in an age of digital media like we do now means that the general public gets consumed by things that actually don’t hold much sporting political relevance in reality. We have to concentrate on what really matters. That includes maintaining good communication with fan groups, which has helped to calm things in the stadiums recently. It’s not one against the other anymore - that’s the way to go.
DFB.de: Refereeing controversies have been a big issue for the DFB recently. What’s gone wrong?
Grindel: I spoke to a lot of officials at the summer refereeing course in Grassau and made it clear how I wanted them to grow together as a team. I’m firmly convinced that the vast majority of referees want to resolve their differences internally. Anyone who brings such disputes into the public eye is going against that team philosophy as a result.
DFB.de: The DFB and DFL have trialled the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the 2018 World Cup, which has been the subject of many a heated debate recently. Do you recommend its use for the World Cup?
Grindel: I’m for it personally, although I will make it clear to the FIFA council with the German experience in mind that it is vitally important for every official to have a crystal clear understanding of when and where it should be implemented. VAR should only be called upon when a decision has been made that is clearly wrong. The referees must also be be very well prepared for its proper use at the World Cup, just like our own referees will be for the second half of the Bundesliga season. The authority of the referee must be maintained in the World Cup, as it will be in the Bundesliga, for VAR to be implemented fairly. At the same time, I encourage that everyone have patience when dealing with the topic.
DFB.de: The German referees went through an intense training period to be ready before the technology was implemented. Is it really possible to prepare referees from around the world in the same way for the World Cup?
Grindel: I think it’s important that they are. Therefore, FIFA needs to appoint their referees as soon as possible and make it clear to them that VAR will not undermine their ultimate authority. It is only there to be used in a very limited selection of circumstances - rather too little than too much. The technology also needs to be at a level whereby we are not subjected to the long breaks in the game like there were at the Confederations Cup earlier this year.
DFB.de: Looking ahead to 2018 now, when did you start preparing for the World Cup in Russia?
Grindel: At the draw for the group stages. It was a very special moment to experience it all next to Jogi Löw and with the great Pele sitting in front of me. We spoke intensively that evening following the draw about our plans for how to approach the tournament. Honestly, I’ve already got World Cup fever and I’m looking forward to going to Russia. We want to be World Cup winners again.
DFB.de: Is there the possibility that if Germany do manage to win the World Cup again, that it can’t really get any better for the head coach and he’ll stop?
Grindel: I know from speaking to Jogi Löw that he really wants to win the Euros - that’s a title that has eluded him to this point. I also get the impression that he feels very comfortable in his current role. As a result, I don’t really have any concerns about that. It’s a pleasure to see how he succeeds again and again at working with a group of people and forming them into a team that is perfectly prepared for the task at hand.
DFB.de: After the World Cup, it will be decided who will host the 2024 European Championship. How tight is it between the DFB and the Turkish football association?
Grindel: Just like Germany, Turkey have put together a highly professional application. Now it’s up to UEFA’s executive committee to decide. According to their regulations, you cannot talk about another application. We will meticulously adhere to all regulations to make sure that our bid is as good as it can be. It will not only focus on the sport and our ability to organise a major tournament of the calibre of a European Championship, but also other important things such as Fair Play and the ability that football has to unite fans of all backgrounds under one unanimous banner. We have the ability to organise a footballing spectacle for hundreds of thousands of football fans from across Europe; an event that brings people closer together and shows the power of universal values.
DFB.de: Do you have to be concerned that - as so often - applications will be considered less in terms of their quality, but more in terms of backroom politics?
Grindel: I trust that UEFA’s integrity, which everyone involved in the organisation adheres to, will make sure that the most convincing application will be chosen.
