FIFA has opened investigations into a number of individuals, including Wolfgang Niersbach and Franz Beckenbauer, following allegations that they were involved in bribery and corruption in the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup.
FIFA’s Ethics Committee stated on Tuesday that proceedings have begun after a report from legal firm Freshfields into Germany’s bidding process for the finals.
A FIFA statement read: “In the cases of Messrs Niersbach and Sandrock, the investigatory chamber will investigate a possible failure to report a breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which could constitute a breach of art. 13 (General rules of conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty), art. 18 (Duty of disclosure, cooperating and reporting) and art. 19 (Conflicts of interest) of the FCE.
“In the cases of Mr Beckenbauer, Dr Zwanziger, Mr Schmidt and Mr Hans, the investigatory chamber will investigate possible undue payments and contracts to gain an advantage in the 2006 FIFA World Cup host selection and the associated funding, which could constitute a breach of arts 13, 15, 18 and 19 as well as art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) and art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
“Under the FIFA Code of Ethics, pursuant to the presumption of innocence, the investigatory chamber shall examine all circumstances of the cases equally. In this sense, all parties are presumed innocent until a decision has been passed by the adjudicatory chamber.”
Beckenbauer, who was in charge of the 2006 tournament’s organising committee, has since denied but admitted he had made a “mistake” during the bidding process.
Niersbach resigned from his position as head of the DFB in November, while Sandrock stepped down a week before the findings were published.
