Raids at DFB and Euro 2024 host cities over corruption suspicions
More than 150 investigators searched the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt and several town halls. Two suspects are in focus.
Raids at DFB and Euro 2024 host cities over corruption suspicions
On Wednesday morning, German authorities carried out extensive searches in connection with the organisation of the 2024 European Football Championship. Over 150 police investigators searched, amongst other locations, the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) in Frankfurt and several town halls of the Euro 2024 host cities. This is reported by ERR.
The investigators suspect that match tickets and hotel vouchers were distributed to officials and other people involved in the organisation before the tournament. The authorities are examining whether anti-corruption laws were violated in the process.
In the sights of the investigators are a 66-year-old German and a 46-year-old Frenchman. The Frenchman worked for the Euro 2024 GmbH company, which was founded by the DFB and UEFA to organise the European Championship.
According to the investigators, the 46-year-old invited employees of several host cities to Euro matches. For example, an employee of the Gelsenkirchen municipal administration received an invitation to the semi-final between Spain and France. Including travel and accommodation costs, the invitation had a value of approximately 2,400 euros.
The raids extended beyond Frankfurt to Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart, Munich and Leipzig. In addition, three companies were searched which may be connected with the investigation.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasised that public sector employees must not accept valuable gifts or free tickets. According to his statement, all possible corruption cases must be thoroughly investigated.
Source: ERR