The German Football Association (DFB) on Friday voted Reinhard

Grindel, a member of Germany’s parliament, to become the 12th president

of the scandal-hit body behind the world champions.

The 54-year-old, the only candidate running to head the German FA,

was voted in with 250 ‘yes’ votes with only four delegates voting ‘no’

and one abstention at an extraordinary general meeting in Frankfurt.

His position now needs to be ratified at the next annual German FA conference on November 4.

He replaces Wolfgang Niersbach, who resigned last November in the

wake of the scandal around the awarding of the 2006 World Cup finals.

Grindel, a former lawyer and journalist, will now stand down as a

member of the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, for Angela Merkel’s CDU

party, and step up to the top role having been treasurer of the DFB for

the last three years.

Grindel has stepped in after Niersbach resigned over accusations the

DFB used a slush fund of 10 million Swiss franc (6.7 million euro, $8

million, according to the exchange rate at that time) in 2000 to buy the

right to host the 2006 World Cup finals.

Grindel will attend Germany’s Euro 2016 matches in France as the

world champions look to add the European crown to their Brazil 2014

World Cup triumph.

But behind the scenes, he must repair the damage done to the DFB’s

reputation both at home and abroad, plus settle the internal squabbles

between the DFB’s amateur and professional representatives.

After his appointment, Grindel basked in the applause, taking

congratulations from German legend Uwe Seeler and the coaching staff.

He insisted the meeting is a new start.

“This extraordinary meeting is a turning point which means football will take centre stage again,” said Grindel.

“The next stage will have a sporting aspect and I will be with the players during the European championships.

“I have international obligations at congresses with UEFA and FIFA.

“But essentially we need to make sure that all the mandates from the (DFB’s) strategy papers are carried out.

“It’s about working on the substantive issues and we will do so with great energy.”

But Grindel has been criticised for keeping a low profile when the 2006 World Cup scandal first broke.

Representatives of the Bundesliga’s top clubs have also felt snubbed

by Grindel’s nomination, saying the amateur ranks of the DFB have given

the top job to a man who has virtually no profile in the professional

game.

The new president needs to unite the pro and amateur ranks within the German FA.

“I know the situation in terms of conversations and there is no point

where we have had insurmountable contradictions,” he said on the

subject.

“There are confidential discussions taking place, which, in terms of the future, are perhaps the most important.”