The investigation into corruption involving the German Football Association (DFB) and the country’s successful bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup took another turn Tuesday when Frankfurt police raided DFB headquarters, according to a BBC report.
The report also states that the homes of DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach, former president Theo Zwanziger and former Secretary General Horst Schmid were also searched.
The BBC report says about 50 officers and tax inspectors searched the DFB headquarters and the homes of the three officials in a tax evasion probe linked to the awarding of the World Cup to Germany in 2006 — and an alleged transfer of €6.7 million from “the organizing committee for the DFB to (FIFA).”
Niersbach has denied the allegations, insisting that the money was a loan used to earn larger FIFA funding.
The report goes on to say that the deal was agreed at a meeting between suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Franz Beckenbauer, the president of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup.
Zwanziger tells a different tale, telling Der Spiegel that his successor lied, and adding that it was “clear that a slush fund existed.”
Beckenbauer admits that the agreement was a mistake in the bidding process, but denies the buying of votes.
This comes on the heels of a Der Spiegel report last month that a “slush fund” of £4.9 million was used to pay for four votes from Asian members of FIFA’s Executive Committee.
One of those members was South Korean Dr. Chung Mong-Joon, who drew a six-year ban last month from FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
Germany won the vote to host the event in July 2000, narrowly beating out South Africa after a 12-11 final vote.
The DFB has denied these charges, and says it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
BBC: Germany Fifa crisis: Tax raid on German football association
Report: German officials accused of buying rights to 2006 World Cup
