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FIFA opens investigation over 2006 World Cup

Tuesday, 22 March 2016 10:56 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 24 March 2016 2:17 AM ]

The president of the Germany 2006 World Cup organizing committee, Franz Beckenbauer. (AFP)

The ethics committee of World Governing Body FIFA has opened a bribery probe into Franz Beckenbauer and 5 other officials from Germany's 2006 World Cup bid.

Earlier this month, the 70 year-old denied any wrongdoing in an affair involving the 2006 World Cup in Germany and said that he didn't know about the multi-million payment to a disgraced former FIFA official in Qatar.

The ethics committee opened proceedings after examining a report commissioned by the German Football Association. Other individuals included former German football officials Wolfgang Niersbach, Helmut Sandrock, Theo Zwanziger, Horst Schmidt and Stefan Hans.

Germany beat South Africa 12-11 in the vote, which took place in July 2000. Beckenbower captained West Germany to victory as hosts at the 1974 World Cup, and was coach when they next lifted the trophy in Italy 16 years later.

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