ZURICH: Wolfgang Niersbach has told world football federation FIFA that he intends to continue as a member of its executive committee despite having quit as head of the German DFB.

Niersbach stepped down from his German role under pressure over the 2006 World Cup cash scandal; he had been an executive director of both the bid and the local organising committee.

A FIFA spokesman said: “We can confirm that Mr Niersbach has informed FIFA that he will remain in his functions as a member of the FIFA executive committee.”

Niersbach has a clear precedent: his German predecessor, Theo Zwanziger, remained on the FIFA exco to serve out his four-year term after being retiring as DFB president.

European federation UEFA has eight delegates on the FIFA exco.

Niersbach was vocal last year in criticising FIFA president Sepp Blatter for breaking a promise and deciding to stand again at the election congress in May.

Blatter is currently suspended and facing a criminal investigation in Switzerland over a ‘disloyal payment’ to UEFA president Michel Platini, who is also serving a FIFA ethics suspension.

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