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DFB apology after obituary: RWE fans outraged by Frank Mill!
Frank Mill, former world champion, deceased; DFB apologizes for forgetting to honor its home club Rot-Weiss Essen.
DFB apology after obituary: RWE fans outraged by Frank Mill!
A sad chapter has opened up around German football. Frank Mill, a former world champion and striker, has died aged 67. His death was announced on August 5th and the German Football Association (DFB) wanted to pay tribute to him in an obituary. This ad appeared in regional newspapers and on the DFB website and paid tribute to his impressive career with clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Düsseldorf. But a crucial detail was missing: Mill's hometown club, Rot-Weiss Essen, was not mentioned in the award, which led to massive criticism from fans of the Red-Whites welt.de reported.
It didn't take long for the Rot-Weiss Essen supporters to react. Fans expressed their displeasure on social media, describing the non-naming as “shameful” and “disrespectful”. Among them was Andreas Rettig, DFB managing director and also a fan of RWE. He appeared incomprehensible about the failure to thank Mills' first club. In an official statement, the DFB apologized for the mistake and admitted that Rot-Weiss Essen should have been mentioned in the obituary, as freipresse.de notes.
The career of Frank Mill
Frank Mill moved to Rot-Weiss Essen at the age of 14 and was a goal-hungry presence in the 1980/81 season. He attracted attention with 41 goals in the second division. In total, Mill played 166 times for the Rot-Weiß and made his senior debut in 1976, which made him a legend in Essen. In the years that followed, he had a decisive influence on the club's history.
Mill was not only a talented striker, but also part of the German national team with which he won the World Cup in 1990. In 17 international matches he showed why he is one of the best of his generation.
Criticism and apology
The criticism of the DFB was loud and clear. Fans not only demanded an apology, but also a proper recognition of Mill's achievements at the club. DFB media director Steffen Simon described the situation as an “annoying mistake”. Rettig's apology was not only made publicly, but also directly to the Rot-Weiss Essen board of directors - an attempt to smooth things over and take the fans' displeasure into account.
It remains to be seen how the DFB reacts to the wave of criticism and whether the obituary will be a lesson for future football honors. However, one thing is certain: Frank Mill will shine as a player and person in the memories of both his fans and the entire football community.
Meanwhile, while football in Germany struggles to properly recognize a great talent, the Red and Whites are looking forward to more exciting games and continuing the tradition of their revered club. No matter whether at the next third division away game or at home games - the passion and dedication of the fans will always be a part of Rot-Weiss Essen.