By Emily Goddard

The German Football Federation is urging Theo Zwanziger to step down from his position on the FIFA Executive Committee ©Getty ImagesThe German Football Federation (DFB) is urging its former President Theo Zwanziger to step down from his position on the FIFA Executive Committee following a public row with his successor at the national body.

The 69-year-old, who was head of the German organisation between 2006 and 2012 but remains a member of FIFA to represent UEFA, accused current President Wolfgang Niersbach of "hypocrisy" over his salary at the weekend.

The DFB hit back at Zwanziger, whose mandate on FIFA's Executive Committee runs until May next year, saying his comments were "intolerable", "clearly personally motivated" and "called into question and discredited the excellent work of the President".

The German Football Federation's comments come after Theo Zwanziger publicly criticised current President Wolfgang Niersbach (pictured) ©Getty ImagesThe German Football Federation's comments come after Theo Zwanziger publicly criticised current President Wolfgang Niersbach (pictured) ©Getty Images


It added that he "does not appropriately represent the interests of German football at FIFA" and, thus, urges him to quit his position at football's world governing body.

Reinhard Rauball, the President of Germany's Bundesliga, also added his voice to the criticism of Zwanziger.

"These public statements are totally unacceptable, moreover, during a World Cup, in which the players and the sport should be the focus," he said.

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