Who succeeds Niersbach?

Germany's Football Association (DFB) is on the hunt for a new president following the resignation of Wolfgang Niersbach on Monday.

DFB Treasurer Reinhard Grindel is one of the favorites, according to German media reports. Grindel is the president of the Bavarian football association and the body for Southern Germany, with a focus on amateur football in particular.

Grindel, a member of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in Lower Saxony, refused to comment on speculation. "I myself do not comment on personnel speculation," he told German news agency DPA.

The 54-year-old from Hamburg looks to be the main candidate from outside of Germany's FA to take the top job having previously expressed interest before the recent scandal around vote-buying to host the 2006 World Cup. However, Grindel also sits on the Bundestag's Sports Committee, which has been embroiled in the scandal.

Koch in contention

Rainer Koch, the vice-president of the DFB, is another potential candidate having spent nine years as the president of the German FA's sports court. Koch will share the responsibilities with Dr. Reinhard Rauball, the head of the DFL since 2007 and president of Borussia Dortmund.

Amid allegations of buying votes to host the 2006 World Cup, Koch clarified the involvement of Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the Organizing Committee. Reports from newspaper "BILD" claimed Beckenbauer signed an agreement to buy votes just four days before Germany was awarded hosting rights in 2000.

"It's an agreement that was signed by Franz Beckenbauer on the German side and Jack Warner, on the CONCACAF side," said Koch. "In the contract there were no direct cash benefits promised by the German side... and there is no knowledge as to whether the agreement was completed."

Rauball has indicated his desire to focus primarily on his duties at Signal Iduna Park, while Koch reportedly wants a successor to Niersbach confirmed before the 2016 European Championships in France next summer. Koch, Rauball, Grindel and DFB General Secretary Helmut Sandrock will discuss the topic in Paris before the forthcoming international friendly.

"The DFB is currently going through a highly problematic situation. So for the good of our sport, together we need to get to work, the Bundesliga as well as the amateurs," 68-year-old Rauball told German magazine "Sport Bild".

"This will take much more time than is expected."