THE OMBUDSMAN
Since 2011, the DFB and DFL have had an external Ombudsman to protect the integrity of sporting competition. Since the 2020-21 season the Ombudsman is also the point of contact for all players of the VBL Club Championship by WOW (VBL CC).
In his function as Ombudsman, Dr. Carsten Thiel von Herff is available as an independent contact person for anyone who can provide information of either planned or arranged match-fixing. In addition, he provides advice to everyone involved in football on how to manage possible hazardous situations or suspicious circumstances.
Information can also be provided anonymously, so in this way confidentiality is assured. The Ombudsman examines information of manipulation, passing anything suspicious on to the legal departments of the DFB and DFL and agrees on further action with those responsible.
Dr. Carsten Thiel von Herff is a full-time lawyer for compliance, antitrust and competition law. He is a former referee and coach in the areas of junior and amateur football and is also Ombudsman for other organisations. He has many years of experience in the prevention of corruption and match-fixing. In 2018 he was recipient of the award as the best compliance lawyer in Germany.
The Ombudsman is available 24 hours a day via email, phone or via the free hotline 00800-OMBUDSMAN. All you have to do is enter the letters OMBUDSMAN in the telephone keyboard and thereby automatically dial the Ombudsman’s telephone number (00800-662837626) as each letter corresponds to a number in the keyboard. For more information, see the ‘how to report section’.
