The 62-year-old signalled his intention to step down as spokesman for the German FA's (DFB) refereeing panel last week, officially due to health reasons, and he has now made that formal via his solicitor.

He has not only resigned from his position with the DFB, but also from a role he occupied in the Southern Germany Football Association.

"We acknowledge this step and believe it is right and necessary because we have evidence which unfortunately strengthens the allegations against Mr Amerell," said a press release from the DFB.

"This is the result of further hearings held in recent days with the DFB's chief counsel Dr Jorg Englisch.

"The investigations will be brought to a hasty conclusion. The report from Dr Jorg Englisch will then be handed immediately to DFB president Dr Theo Zwanziger and general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach and the board will be given access to it."

Amerell is currently being investigated for allegedly sexually harassing a young referee, who approached the DFB before Christmas to seek assistance.

However, he denies the allegations and explained in a press release today that he has been "deeply shocked" by them.

"I have never sexually harassed a young Bundesliga referee at any time in the past," he said.

"Nor have I forced anybody, be it with threats or with violence, to tolerate sexual acts from me or a third party or to perform them on me or a third party.

"I am disappointed that my private matters are being made public in completely false and discrediting manner.

"Public pre-judgements, suspicions and speculation have taken on such a gravity that they are no longer bearable for me and my family."

Amerell did admit to having a close relationship with the referee who has raised the initial complaint, but said it was "a private and personal relationship, totally independent of my position on the refereeing panel".

"It was certainly an error to let my friendship with the referee concerned get so close," he added.