Founding Clubs of the DFB

The founding meeting of the German Football Association found as " I. General German football day " on January 28, 1900 in Leipzig restaurant instead to Mariengarten. The aim of this event was to create an umbrella organization for the costs incurred up to that football associations and clubs in Germany, to provide a consistent framework and the implementation of national championships and international matches. It led to the establishment of the now world 's biggest single sporting association, the German Football Association ( DFB).

Historical Background and History

The football in Germany was the end of the 1880s gradually popularized and spread to the end of the 19th century in various cities of the German Empire. At first foundations of associations, there was at first mainly in Berlin and soon were loud after a nationwide organization of football competitions. However, the initial claim to sole representation of the Berlin Bund German footballer or its successor, the German Football and Cricket Federation came mainly in the south of Germany with resistance, so that organized until the late 19th century due to the rivalries neither rich -wide championships yet official international comparisons could. Also it was missing at the time of uniform rules and corresponding training of arbitrators. The insight that required either a wide -reaching umbrella organization, was indeed present, several attempts and calls for establishment of such an organization were to the turn of the century but failed.

On the edge of the " General German Sports Day ", which took place in Leipzig in July 1899, some representatives of the Association of Leipzig ball game clubs, and foreign visitors came together for a brief meeting. Topic was the focus of a " general German football day " on which the establishment of a German Football Association should be decided. This should take place in September in Leipzig, but the event did not materialize. After it had come against English selection teams again to dispute about the responsibilities and competencies for the organization of international meetings by those in Berlin and Karlsruhe discharged in November 1899 games ( three of the later so-called Ur - caps) German, seized the chairman of the Leipzig Football Association, John Kirmse, the initiative and published in the "German sports news " on January 4, 1900 the following notice:

The "First General German football day "

On January 28, at 10 clock 40 John Kirmse opened as host and chairman of the "First General German football day ". The participants were mainly from the first generation of players together who had made as high school students or students in the 1890s with the football acquaintance and who were aged at this time approximately between 25 and 30 years; 47 years old was Ferdinand Hueppe from DFC Prague the eldest among them. They represented at this meeting a total of 86 clubs, do not provide a complete listing of contemporary sources, however. Among the clubs representing also included two German clubs from Prague ( DFC and Germania ), which belonged at the time to Austria - Hungary. This led to a first controversy in which it was whether only rich German clubs and associations should be permitted; ultimately endorsed the majority, however, with 69 votes to 16 ( with one abstention ) the participation of all clubs.

The only item on the agenda was then: " Whether and how is an agreement of all German football associations and clubs that possible?" And to tackle the issue stood in the opinion of the initiators of the following points in the foreground:

  • The establishment of a commission to prepare the establishment of a general football association.
  • The fixing of general German football rules.
  • The eradication English game expressions.
  • The appointment of a Supreme Court of Arbitration for disputes.
  • The organization of the next football day.

However, many attendees wanted to see yet founded on this day an association so that this question, a heated discussion. While about the Hamburg representative Walter summer Meier saw come for the establishment of the right moment, held Fritz Boxhammer, Chairman of the VDB and thus representative of many Berlin clubs, such as premature and announced that he represents clubs the decisions of the first general German football day not readily than would regard as binding. He expects a positive result of the football first day only to establish uniform rules. Even Walther Bensenville man who was as well known for restraint rather for his brash approach, was of the opinion prerequisite for the establishment of an association are consistent play and referee rules and the strengthening of local organizations. John Kirmse suggested again to the establishment of a commission to prepare a foundation. As with previous attempts, a richly -wide association's establishment seemed thus to be postponed indefinitely.

After Gustav Manning, however, " to act definitively " once again to the intention of the football Tags, pointed and Walter summer Meier had appealed to the memory of the Empire 1870/71 to the patriotism of the delegates, the following motion was shortly before the lunch break asked: " undersigned apply for the establishment of a general German Football Association through today's meeting. Fred Manning, summer Meier, Hueppe, Wamser. "That vote was 64 votes to 22 for the immediate establishment of the association. John Kirmse then told " to thunderous applause " with that of the German football federation had constituted.

However, the legality of this ad- hoc creation of the Federal was controversial, especially since not all those present considered themselves authorized to make this far-reaching decision for the clubs whose voting rights they perceive. Boxhammer put together with other opponents of the establishment after the lunch break protest, and Kurt Doerry brought the question of who is doing now days, the German Football Association or the German football day, the situation on the spot. Through the Declaration of the Representatives of 60 clubs to the new association of the protests have already been created in defiance of the facts.

Founding clubs of the German Football Association

Within the present state of knowledge listed below 86 clubs were represented at the founding meeting. 53 of which immediately declared their accession, another seven subject. The DFB came immediately: Member clubs of Hamburg- Altona Football Association ( 8), the South German Federation ( 7 or 8 with the Freiburger FC ), the Berlin German Football and Cricket Federation ( 4) and the clubs of the host Leipzig Association ( 5), but each occurred for itself, as well as 29 individual clubs, including the Freiburger FC. Since this can not be counted twice, resulting in the sum of 53 immediate accessions. Six clubs from Frankfurt and Hanau, and Germania 88 (Berlin) joined with reservations. The clubs of the Bremer Association for the time being remain outside, as their representatives summer Meier believed to have one of these not so broad mandate. Eleven Member clubs of Berlin VDB joined in June of the same year, four of the represented Bense man Mannheim clubs and other four individual clubs also followed later.

  • DFuCB = German Football and Cricket Federation ( Berlin)
  • HAFB = Hamburg- Altona Football Association
  • MFB = Mannheimer Football Association
  • VBFV = Bremer Association football clubs
  • VDB = Association of German ball game clubs (Berlin)
  • VSFV = Association of Southern German football clubs

After the establishment

Despite the differences of opinion among the participants and the organizational and formal shortcomings, Leipziger foundation meeting proved to be the hoped-for initial spark for football in Germany. Found yet in 1900, with the second ( Erfurt ) and third Bundestag ( Frankfurt am Main ), two further meetings were held. On them binding football rules were defined and Ferdinand Hueppe elected the first chairman of the DFB. At the time of the third parliament in October 1900 belonged to the DFB to 91 clubs. More about regional football associations - the beginning of 1900 there were with the Association of Southern German football clubs and the Rhenish Game Association, only two well above urban areas also active organizations - were founded. The Association of Central German Ballgame clubs from the baptism was at the same place in Leipzig in December 1900 raised, and in the summer of 1901 tried Richard Schröder, participants of the DFB inaugural meeting, with the founding of the Free Berlin Football Association disputes the locally competing Berliner associations and lift clubs and involve clubs from the Mark Brandenburg.

The targeted by the DFB orientation of a German football championship failed initially to the regional associations who were older and only partially willing to part their power to share with the younger German Association. Not until two years after the founding of the DFB came the first championship round, it was 1902/ 03 played out.

After joining the FIFA 1904, the DFB had to foreclose on their pressure involved in its creation Prague clubs from the association. Then Ferdinand Hueppe resigned from his post and was replaced by Friedrich Wilhelm Nohe. The first, organized by the DFB international match took place until 1908.

Aschersleben Charlottenburg FC Concordia Wilhelmsruh VfL Nord Berlin Friedenau BFC Germania 1888 BFC Viktoria 1889 1. Bockenheimer FC 1899 Bockenheim (Frankfurt am Main) FC Brunsviga 1896 Braunschweig Braunschweig SV Blitz Breslau Wrocław Chemnitz Dresden SC Victoria Hamburg FC Hanau 93 TSV Hanau Hanover Karlsruher FV VfR Mannheim SV Victoria 96 Magdeburg Magdeburg Mittweida Pankow (locality) 1. FC Pforzheim Bremen Mannheimer FV 1898 Western German football championship Central German football championship Wandsbek (quarter)
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