Milletich leaves, the problems remain

Gerhard Milletich’s official statement on his resignation as ÖFB President was significant. The Burgenlander spoke of a “massive negative media campaign”, but also of “internal attacks against me” and “hostility from some members of the presidency”. The highest body of by far the largest sports association in the country is deeply divided, and Milletich’s departure will not change that.

The provincial heads from Upper Austria (Gerhard Götschhofer), Salzburg (Herbert Hübel) and Tyrol (Josef Geisler) made life difficult for Leo Windtner and were in strict opposition to the 66-year-old from the beginning of Milletich’s tenure.

This in turn led to serious differences with the other state presidents – meanwhile there is practically no communication between the two hostile camps, except in presidium meetings, which resemble “court hearings”, as an APA committee member reported.

Immediately after his election, Milletich emphasized with a view to the “Western Front” that he did not see himself as a bridge builder. This will have to be his successor, otherwise there is a risk of the Presidium being paralyzed for a long time. “We now need a president who can do one thing, and that will be difficult,” said Styrian President Wolfgang Bartosch.

The next ordeal

To make matters worse, atmospheric disturbances prevail not only in the supervisory body, but also in the operational management of the association. The relationship between Secretary General Thomas Hollerer and Bernhard Neuhold, Managing Director of ÖFB Wirtschaftsbetriebe GmbH, is so shattered that one of the duo will have to leave the association soon.

The new President, who will be elected at an Extraordinary General Meeting in May or June, should make the decision on this. Until then, one of the current vice presidents – Götschhofer, Geisler, Lower Austria’s regional head Johann Gartner and Bundesliga supervisory board chairman Philip Thonhauser – will step in.

Analysis in the video: “Milletich’s resignation was only a matter of time”

Pangl expressed interest

As things stand at present, Götschhofer and Geisler do not have a majority in the Presidium, and the prospect of a Bundesliga representative at the head of the ÖFB causes some people within the association to frown. Gartner, on the other hand, has already passed its 70th birthday and often attracted attention with bizarre statements, and also voted against the Vienna-Aspern infrastructure project. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that the Lower Austrian will win the race at the presidium meeting in Graz on Friday.

The long-term solution in the presidential chair will only be decided later. Thonhauser is said to have ambitions for the prestigious office. Georg Pangl has already publicly expressed his interest.

However, the ex-Bundesliga board member would like to do the job full-time, which would require a structural reform – and real reforms, as they have been called for for years, are out of the question in the current situation in the ÖFB.