Explosion in Austrian Football Association. Referee boss Robert Sedalsek has announced his retirement after twelve years. This means that the OFB will have to find a new chairman for its refereeing committee. “After initiating extensive processes of further development at all levels of refereeing in recent years, the 68-year-old would now like to hand over new forces for the implementation of further steps,” the OFB said in a broadcast.
The former FIFA referee has done extensive voluntary work since 2011 with great personal commitment. His era included the introduction of VAR in the top domestic division. Recently another milestone was set with the appointment of former top referee Viktor Butcher as technical director.
“After twelve years, I consider it the right time to make room for a new generation. After an intense period of the pandemic and the parallel introduction of VAR, as well as central personnel decisions and restructuring in the head office, we are now very professional and stable. Now is the appropriate stage to hand over office,” Sedlacek was quoted as saying in a broadcast.
Sedlacek was unanimously re-elected as president of the Vienna Football Association in June. In future he would like to focus even more on this activity. Sedlacek remains a member of the OFB executive committee and also heads the committee for cup competitions.
ÖFB president Klaus Mitterdorfer thanked Sedless for his “great achievements”. “She is a shining example of volunteerism that is self-evident and not often found now.” Former FIFA referee and president of the Burgenland association Günter Benko will take over the position on an interim basis, although Benko later ruled out a permanent appointment. A successor is to be clarified in the coming months.
