The German Football Association (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt am Main were raided on Wednesday as 150 investigators searched the premises in connection with a bribery investigation. The raid comes just days after Germany's shock World Cup exit to Paraguay on Monday.
Investigation Details
According to German publication Bild, the raid aims to gather evidence regarding allegations of bribery and corruption during the hosting of Euro 2024. Two individuals are under scrutiny: a 66-year-old German man and a 46-year-old Frenchman. They are suspected of distributing thousands of tickets and hotel invitations illegally, offering 'structured preferential treatment' to favored guests.
The DFB headquarters housed Euro 2024 GmbH, the company set up for the tournament. A company in Bavaria was also raided, and city administrations in Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, and Munich are being searched by the investigative commission.
Official Response
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul stated: 'A football ticket is not part of a salary. Anyone in the public service who expects a bribe will receive a visit from us. Large events like the European Football Championship depend on people's trust in the sport and in the authorities. We will not allow this trust to be damaged by a few invitations and tickets.'
The Frenchman under investigation was responsible for relations with host cities and allegedly invited heads of Euro 2024 offices to top matches, including the semi-final between Spain and France in Munich. The German suspect received a financial package of around €2,400 (£2,065) for travel and hotel expenses. He is no longer employed by the city's administration and faces suspicion of fraud and embezzlement. His home is among the locations searched, though the Frenchman has no prior police record.
Impact on German Football
On the pitch, the DFB faces scrutiny after their penalty shootout loss to Paraguay. Speculation over coach Julian Nagelsmann's position is intense, with Jurgen Klopp rumored as a potential successor. Nagelsmann, under contract until after Euro 2028, said: 'I am available. If the DFB wants it, then I will do Euro 2028, and if not then they have to tell me. I'm not someone who runs away.'
