Union leader maintains dominance: Wettersholm continues to guide and rule the union - Decision Time Arrives for European Union's Future Course
Union Berlin's President, Dirk Zingler, affirmed his continued tenure and voiced his discontent with the state of women's football in the Bundesliga during a press conference. Zingler advocated for equal treatment of women's teams, asserting that appropriate payment for female players is feasible for all clubs with professional men's teams.
Speaking about the current landscape in the Bundesliga, Zingler expressed disapproval, stating, "It's a disgraceful showing in Germany when only four or five out of twelve teams pay women professionally." Zingler clarified that this was not a matter of justice or ideology but a call for professionalism in the sport. At Union, wages for the women's team are market-oriented, a stance Zingler supports.
Zingler also criticized the media's lack of focus on women's football and called out the common practice of treating women's football as a disabled sport, requiring additional programs and spotlighted games. He deemed this perspective as misguided.
Union Berlin, with its women's team, achieved promotion to the Bundesliga as second division champions just a year after announcing the creation of professional structures.
In a landmark move, Union's supervisory board reappointed Zingler for another term until 2029. At Union, the president is appointed by the supervisory board rather than elected by the members. Zingler attributes the club's success to the stability brought about by his tenure.
Two women, Katharina Kienemann and Jennifer Zietz, will join the executive board as the managing director of the stadium AG and the women's team, respectively. Christian Arbeit will replace Joerg Hinze as media director.
Under Zingler's leadership, Union's men's team first gained promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019 and participated in the Europa League from 2021 to 2024. In the last two seasons, the team managed to secure its place in the league during the final stages. Zingler deemed this performance satisfactory.
Moving forward, Zingler's focus will be on expanding the stadium at the Alte Foersterei, with the possibility of renovation starting in 2026. However, a few uncertainties remain regarding the coordination of Berlin authorities and the potential need to move to the Olympic Stadium. The location for the women's team's Bundesliga games remains undetermined and must be secured within Berlin.
During the press conference, Union Berlin's President, Dirk Zingler, expressed his disapproval towards the state of women's football in the Bundesliga, suggesting that more teams should provide professional vocational training and equal pay to female players, likening the current situation to the neglect of other European-leagues and sports like football. As a proactive step, Union Berlin recently appointed Katharina Kienemann and Jennifer Zietz to the executive board, with the latter managing the women's team, emphasizing the club's commitment to the sport.
