The referendum for the construction of the planned DFB Academy and the citizen park in Niederrad takes place in Frankfurt am Main on Sunday. DFB head coach Joachim Löw has appealed to the citizens of the town with an open letter. This is what it said:
Dear citizens of Frankfurt,
I like coming to Frankfurt and I feel very comfortable here. I know it’s the same for our national team players when we prepare for our international matches here. Frankfurt is home to the German Football Association (DFB). Frankfurt is a football town for us all and this is how it should remain.
We are all World Champions. But we shouldn’t relax now that we’ve attained our fourth star. We need optimal conditions to continue playing at the very top in the future . That applies for the youth teams, the women and my team, as well as for the education of our coaches.
We need a place where we can combine our knowledge and develop football. For the top and for the whole foundation in Germany. Frankfurt is the ideal place for this forward-looking project. The planned DFB academy can be where we develop young players and ideas.
The design of the academy, with the football pitches and green spaces, shows what can happen here. Of course there will be areas where the coaches will work in private with the team. But we’re also thinking about how we can allow the fans to experience the DFB more.
All of us at the DFB are happy that our upcoming international game in September against Poland will take place here. And I would like to wish that you, citizens of Frankfurt, don't just support us in the stadium.
If you vote no to the referendum on Sunday, then you say yes to the academy! Yes to the further development of football! Yes to the football town of Frankfurt, the home of DFB!
Best Wishes
Joachim Löw