The shit may be about to hit the fan regarding how Germany were awarded hosting rights to the 2006 World Cup.
The German football federation (DFB) is being accused of buying votes for the tournament by German outlet, SPIEGEL.
They report that the bidding team for the competition set up a slush fund for FIFA which was secretly stuffed by then-Adidas CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus with 10.3 million Swiss francs.
The money that was added to the kitty was allegedly used to buy four votes from Asian representatives.
German football legend and head of the bidding committee Franz Beckenbauer as well as Wolfgang Niersbach, the current head of the DFB, were reportedly aware of the scheme.
Louis-Dreyfus lent the money to Germany prior to the country wining hosting rights to the tournament in 2000. However, no record of this loan appeared in the bidding committee’s budget while they were campaigning for it, nor was there any mention of it in the organizing committee’s budget after the tournament was secured.
When the Adidas CEO wanted his loan back, Germany used FIFA to give him the €6.7 million by transferring money that was officially given for an opening gala.
The DFB released a statement this morning in response to the story. You can read it below.
In light of recent investigation into world football’s governing body FIFA, and due to recurrent media coverage, the German Football Association (DFB) have launched an internal investigation into the awarding of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. After thorough examination and auditing, the DFB have found no evidence of any irregularities. Furthermore, there is no evidence that any of the delegates’ votes were won illegally at any stage in the application process.
Through the investigations, DFB became aware that a 6.7 million euro payment, which was paid to FIFA in April 2005 by the organisational committee of the 2006 World Cup, may not have been used for its intended purpose (the FIFA culture program). This payment was in no way linked to the awarding of the 2006 World Cup, which had been decided 5 years previously.
The DFB president took the opportunity in the summer of this year to launch an internal investigation, with the aim of elucidating the entire process. This investigation will also address, with the consultation of an external legal counsel, any issues pertaining to DFB’s claim to any potential repayment. The final report has not yet been released as the aforementioned investigation is still ongoing. This includes the examination by the Control Committee.
