Franz Beckenbauer under investigation for alleged corruption and breach of trust, Swiss prosecutors confirm
The iconic footballer is being investigated by Swiss authorities as part a case looking into the 2006 World Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Swiss prosecutors have confirmed that they are investigating Germany football great Franz Beckenbauer over a claim of alleged corruption after a report appeared in the media overnight.
German news magazine Der Speigel reported on Thursday that Swiss authorities are pursuing a case against Beckenbauer for suspected money laundering and breach of trust, with Fifa prosecutors confirming the investigation on Thursday morning.
"On behalf of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) I do confirm an ongoing operation regarding the topic you are mentioning in your inquiry," a spokeswoman said when asked about the report.
The spokeswoman also confirmed that more details are expected to be released on Thursday.
Organisers of the 2006 World Cup – led by Beckenbauer – have been under investigation by Swiss prosecutors and the Fifa ethics committee since February after a 361-page report published by the German football federation [DFB] attempted to explain a trail of payments totalling €6.7m and 10m Swiss francs.
Beckenbauer, 70, has denied any wrongdoing.
The money linked Beckenbauer, then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter, Fifa power broker Mohamed bin Hammam and Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the late former Adidas executive and former part owner of Swiss marketing agency Infront.
That report, by law firm Freshfields, suggested a deeper involvement of Beckenbauer, who later joined the Fifa executive committee from 2007-11, than previously suspected.
Investigations by German prosecutors and tax officials of suspected tax evasion by the DFB led Wolfgang Niersbach and Helmut Sandrock to resign in recent months as its president and general secretary respectively. Niersbach was later banned for one year by the Fifa ethics committee for failing to disclose suspected corruption. He has said he will appeal against the ban.
Beckenbauer and three other senior 2006 World Cup officials are under investigation for suspected bribery by Fifa ethics prosecutors, who opened formal cases in March.
The other three German officials are: Theo Zwanziger, who replaced Beckenbauer on the Fifa executive committee in 2011; Horst Schmidt, vice president of the World Cup organizing panel; and Stefan Hans, chief financial officer for the organizers.
Swiss federal prosecutors are investigating the 2006 World Cup allegations as part of a wider probe of Fifa’s business. It has already put Blatter under criminal investigation for two separate acts of suspected financial mismanagement.
Additional reporting by AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments