German football plunged into further turmoil on Wednesday after police raided the German Football Association’s (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt as part of a major bribery investigation connected to Euro 2024.
According to City AM, more than 150 police officers took part in coordinated searches at the DFB’s offices as well as town halls in several cities that hosted matches during last summer’s European Championship. Investigators are examining allegations that officials from host cities received unauthorised benefits from the tournament’s organising committee, including free match tickets, hotel accommodation and travel.
The investigation details
The core of the investigation focuses on whether individuals working for host cities received preferential treatment from the tournament’s organising committee. A joint statement from police and prosecutors detailed the scope of the inquiry, stating: “The subject of the investigation is allegedly granted unauthorised benefits – including in the form of attendance at an international football match – which an accused individual, who was working for a host city at the time, is said to have received from those responsible within the organising society.”
The statement further clarified that “those responsible within the organizing society are alleged to have offered the host cities exclusive pre-emption rights (priority purchasing rights) for tickets, which were partially utilized by the host cities and used in various ways.” Specifically, two individuals linked to the Euro 2024 organising committee are alleged to have distributed free tickets for the semi-final match between Spain and France.
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Germany’s interior minister, Herbert Reul, underscored the seriousness of the allegations, remarking, “A football ticket is not part of a salary. Anyone in public service who holds out their hand can expect a visit from us.”
A history of controversy
The raid comes at a tumultuous time for German football. The national team was eliminated from the World Cup on Monday night following a penalty shootout defeat against Paraguay in the last 16. This marks the third consecutive major tournament where Germany has failed to progress beyond the last 16.
The DFB itself has a history of controversy, including allegations of bribing FIFA officials to secure the hosting rights for the 2006 World Cup. This latest probe adds another layer of scrutiny to an organisation already facing questions about its integrity and the performance of its national team.
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