Departing CEO Watzke to face challenge for Dortmund presidency
Hans-Joachim Watzke (L), Managing Director of Borussia Dortmund and Chairman of the DFL Supervisory Board, and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (2nd R) stand in the stands ahead of the UEFA Nations League play-offs, second leg soccer match between Germany and Italy at Signal Iduna Park. German Football Federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke are to take additional tasks at the European football ruling body UEFA. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
Departing Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke faces competition in his bid to move into the less hands-on role of president.
An election will take place at the next general meeting in November and Watzke had been expected to get the nod.
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However, current club president Reinhold Lunow now says he wants to seek re-election.
"I am running again for president of Borussia Dortmund because our club is unique - and we want to keep it that way. To achieve this, we need a strong, new togetherness," Lunow was quoted as saying by the city's Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper on Tuesday.
In the past, the 71-year-old has attracted attention as a fierce critic of the club's sponsorship deal with the armaments company Rheinmetall, which was pushed by Watzke.
"Reinhold Lunow is well within his rights to apply for the presidency. I will discuss the consequences of this with the relevant committees," Watzke said.
The long-standing Dortmund boss is to be succeeded as chief executive by former player Lars Ricken in the coming months.
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