Independent point of contact: the Ombudsperson

Ombudsperson Dr. Carsten Thiel von Herff (pictured) is a central element in prevention work and the fight against match-fixing for players, trainers, coaches and referees.

In this role since 2011, he is available to whistleblowers as an independent point of contact for tip-offs concerning planned or agreed match-fixing. He also advises on how to deal with potential suspicions and risk situations. Tip-offs and information can also be submitted anonymously, with a guarantee that they will be treated confidentially. The ombudsperson examines the tip-offs received and passes them on to the legal departments of the DFL and DFB and coordinates the assessment with the responsible officers. From the season 2020-21, he is available to players of the VBL Club Championship as an ombudsperson as well.

Incidents relating to match-fixing can be reported at any time via the free hotline 00800-OMBUDSMANN or the “DFL Integrity App”.

Dr. Carsten Thiel von Herff’s main job is as a lawyer specialising in compliance, anti-trust and competition law in Bielefeld. The former referee and coach in the junior and amateur divisions also acts as an ombudsperson for other well-known organisations and has many years of experience in the prevention of corruption. Further information and contact details can be found on the project website.