European football unable to catch a break this year
German police raided the homes of the sitting DFB president as well as the past DFB president. The raid occurred because of implications that the pair were involved in tax evasion that has been linked to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Nearly 50 officers and inspectors raided both the offices and the personal homes of the DFB. These raids follow allegations that the DFB spent 6.7 million Euros on votes secure Germany’s place as host of the 2006 World Cup.
DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach has denied these allegations. He says that FIFA received the money legally. This was part of an agreement with FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
Yet, former DFB president Theo Zwanziger says that Niersbach is lying about the money. He told Der Spiegel that it was obvious that the money existed and it was obvious where he went.
Franz Beckenbauer, the president of the organizing committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, said that mistakes were made in 2000 during the bidding process. But he supports Niersbach and says that the votes to support Germany as host were not purchased using a Bundesliga app.
He also told the BBC that the proposal from FIFA would have been rejected if it were offered today. He admits was responsible for the mistake.
These allegations come at a difficult time for FIFA. The organization is still reeling from the suspension of its president, Sepp Blatter.
The organization is accused of being widely corrupt. Several of its top executives have been indicted by the US Department of Justice over the summer. However, Blatter denies any wrong doing.
FIFA’s suspended president is currently under investigation by the Swiss government. The investigation is running alongside the FBI’s investigation.
Blatter is accused of making an illegal payment to European football head Michel Platini.
Blatter’s colleagues have been charged with wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering. The inditement includes 47 counts of criminal wrongdoing.
The World Cup is the most-watched sports event in the entire world. Participating in, hosting and running the event generates billions of dollars for those involved.
