FIFA's 2006 World Cup probe, German legend 'Der Kaiser' cited

FIFA has launched a probe into Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid.

The move follows a report that Germany dubiously won the bid for the World Cup ahead of South Africa.

Six individuals including Franz Beckenbauer are being investigated by FIFA’s Ethics committee.

FIFA opens probe into 2006 World Cup bidding, Beckenbauer named https://t.co/aQEauS7VOp pic.twitter.com/lXtSYb6M8z

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‘‘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,’‘ FIFA said in a “statement“http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2016/m=3/news=investigatory-chamber-of-the-independent-ethics-committee-opens-formal-2771787.html.

Wolfgang Niersbach, a former president of the German Football Association (DFB), Helmut Sandrock, former secretary general of the DFB, Theo Zwanziger, former president of the DFB, Horst R. Schmidt, former secretary general of the DFB and Stefan Hans, former chief financial officer of the DFB are all under investigation.

The investigations will be led by Cornel Borbely, the chair of the investigatory chamber.

“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,” FIFA said.

Beckenbauer has previously denied any wrong doing into the allegations and payments to a disgraced official.

Germany won the right to host the World cup by 12 votes against South Africa’s 11.