Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschmann
Encyclopedia
Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschmann was a Dutch banker and the 2nd General Secretary of FIFA
, serving from 1906 to 1931 upon his resignation.
of the Royal Dutch Football Association
. The idea of founding an international federation began taking form. Hirschmann recognized the leading role of the English who had already founded their Football Association in 1863. Hirschmann, turned to the Football Association. Its secretary did accept the proposal but until the Executive Committee of the Football Association, the international F. A. Board and the Associations of Scotland
, Wales
and Ireland
had given their opinion about the matter, a great deal of time went past. On May 23, 1904, Robert Guérin
was elected as President
of FIFA
, Victor E. Schneider (Switzerland) and Hirschmann were made Vice-Presidents. Louis Muhlinghaus
was appointed Secretary and Treasurer
, with the assistance of Ludvig Sylow (Denmark). These pioneers were faced with an immense task because FIFA only existed on paper so to speak. One had to give it shape, create Associations as true national representations and get hold of new members. The start of the first World War (1914) caused a major interruption. FIFA dozed on and President Daniel Burley Woolfall
died in 1918.
FIFA did not fade out completely, thanks to Hirschmann, who carried out his tasks as Honorary
Secretary from his offices in Amsterdam and carefully kept the organisation alive. Within the scope of his limited possibilities, he maintained correspondence with his foreign colleagues. This way, he looked after the FIFA Secretariat on his own and at his expense. Hirschmann had an incredible capacity for work and was very unselfish. He dedicated his life to sports and particularly so to football. He served the Netherlands Football Association in various functions and also belonged to his national Olympic Committee. One of the founders himself, he took up contact with all the members at the end of the war, on the initiative of the President of the French Football Association, Jules Rimet. Hirschmann actually convened an assembly in Brussels in 1919. However, negotiations advanced tediously. After a long, bloody war, wounds had not yet healed. Many delegates, particularly the English, did not yet want to accept yesterday's foes.
In 1920, Antwerp, Belgium
, a meeting was held. A new administrative board of FIFA was elected on a provisional basis. It was composed of the following: Jules Rimet
as Chairman, the Dane
, Louis Oestrup as Deputy Chairman and Hirschmann as Honorary Secretary. The results of this election were then submitted to all affiliated Associations which unanimously gave their approval by mail. This was the last time that such a procedure was employed, as the next Statutes excluded voting by mail or by mandate.
FIFA Executive Committee
FIFA Executive Committee is an institution of FIFA . It is the main decision-making body of the organization in the intervals of Congress...
, serving from 1906 to 1931 upon his resignation.
Life and career
Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschmann served as secretarySecretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Royal Dutch Football Association
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
. The idea of founding an international federation began taking form. Hirschmann recognized the leading role of the English who had already founded their Football Association in 1863. Hirschmann, turned to the Football Association. Its secretary did accept the proposal but until the Executive Committee of the Football Association, the international F. A. Board and the Associations of Scotland
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
had given their opinion about the matter, a great deal of time went past. On May 23, 1904, Robert Guérin
Robert Guérin
Robert Guérin was a French journalist and the 1st President and founder of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. A journalist with Le Matin newspaper, Guerin was actively involved in football through his role as secretary of the Football Department of the Union des Sociétés...
was elected as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, Victor E. Schneider (Switzerland) and Hirschmann were made Vice-Presidents. Louis Muhlinghaus
Louis Muhlinghaus
Louis Muhlinghaus , was the 1st General Secretary of FIFA, serving from 1904 to 1906....
was appointed Secretary and Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, with the assistance of Ludvig Sylow (Denmark). These pioneers were faced with an immense task because FIFA only existed on paper so to speak. One had to give it shape, create Associations as true national representations and get hold of new members. The start of the first World War (1914) caused a major interruption. FIFA dozed on and President Daniel Burley Woolfall
Daniel Burley Woolfall
Daniel Burley Woolfall was the 2nd President of FIFA, serving from 1906 to 1918.-References:...
died in 1918.
FIFA did not fade out completely, thanks to Hirschmann, who carried out his tasks as Honorary
Honorary
An honorary position is an unpaid position. Other uses include:* honorary title — awarded as a mark of distinction** honorary citizenship — awarded to aliens who have rendered service to the state...
Secretary from his offices in Amsterdam and carefully kept the organisation alive. Within the scope of his limited possibilities, he maintained correspondence with his foreign colleagues. This way, he looked after the FIFA Secretariat on his own and at his expense. Hirschmann had an incredible capacity for work and was very unselfish. He dedicated his life to sports and particularly so to football. He served the Netherlands Football Association in various functions and also belonged to his national Olympic Committee. One of the founders himself, he took up contact with all the members at the end of the war, on the initiative of the President of the French Football Association, Jules Rimet. Hirschmann actually convened an assembly in Brussels in 1919. However, negotiations advanced tediously. After a long, bloody war, wounds had not yet healed. Many delegates, particularly the English, did not yet want to accept yesterday's foes.
In 1920, Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, a meeting was held. A new administrative board of FIFA was elected on a provisional basis. It was composed of the following: Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet was a French football administrator who was the 3rd President of FIFA, serving from 1921 to 1954. He was FIFA's longest serving president, having served for 33 years. He also served as the president of the French Football Federation from 1919 to 1946...
as Chairman, the Dane
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
, Louis Oestrup as Deputy Chairman and Hirschmann as Honorary Secretary. The results of this election were then submitted to all affiliated Associations which unanimously gave their approval by mail. This was the last time that such a procedure was employed, as the next Statutes excluded voting by mail or by mandate.