German authorities search DFB headquarters and host cities over Euro 2024 corruption suspicions
During a nationwide raid, over 150 criminal investigators searched the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt and town halls in several host cities. Two suspects – a German and a Frenchman – are alleged to have received improper benefits in connection with the Euro 2024 organisation.
German authorities search DFB headquarters and host cities over Euro 2024 corruption suspicions
German investigative authorities conducted a large-scale raid on Wednesday in connection with suspected corruption at the 2024 European Football Championship. More than 150 criminal investigators from the North Rhine-Westphalia State Criminal Police Office and the Bochum Public Prosecutor's Office, supported by local police units, searched the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) in Frankfurt and several town halls in various host cities.
According to news agency Deutsche Welle, two men are the focus of the investigation: a 66-year-old German national and a 46-year-old French citizen. Both are alleged to have been connected with the organising company Euro 2024 GmbH.
The authorities are investigating whether officials from the host cities were offered improper advantages. These allegedly include exclusive tickets to matches as well as travel and hotel accommodation – benefits that could be classified as bribery.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasised to the tabloid newspaper Bild that football tickets are not part of civil servants' salaries. "Every public sector employee who accepts bribes can expect a visit from us," the minister stated.
In addition to Frankfurt, where the DFB is headquartered, searches also took place in Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart and Munich. Several companies were also searched.
Source: Soccernet.ee
Source: Google News EE — Crime (et)