Police search DFB headquarters following World Cup exit against Paraguay
More than 150 officers searched the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt and several host cities of Euro 2024 as part of a corruption and bribery investigation.
Police search DFB headquarters following World Cup exit against Paraguay
Police have searched the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) – just two days after the German national team's exit from the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay in the first knockout round. The investigations are directed at possible corruption and bribery cases in connection with the organisation of the European Football Championship 2024.
According to German newspaper Welt, more than 150 officers from the State Criminal Police Office North Rhine-Westphalia were deployed. They searched not only the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt, but also several town halls in the tournament's host cities.
At the centre of the investigation are two suspects: a 66-year-old German and a 46-year-old Frenchman. Both are accused of having granted advantages in an organised manner, which could be classified as a bribery offence.
The case revolves around the unlawful distribution of thousands of entrance tickets and hotel invitations for Euro 2024. The investigations could also extend to municipal officials who allegedly benefited personally from the tournament.
The starting point of the investigations is the company Euro 2024 GmbH, which was founded by the DFB and UEFA to organise the tournament. The French suspect, who was responsible for relations with the host cities, allegedly sent invitations to officials of the organising offices so they could attend high-profile matches.
According to investigators, the German suspect was to have received an advantage worth around 2,400 euros, including an entrance ticket for the semi-final between Spain and France in Munich as well as travel and accommodation costs.
The news comes at a moment of deep crisis for German football, which must cope with both the sporting disappointment of the World Cup defeat and this new institutional scandal.
Source: Goal.com
Source: Google News PY — Crime