01:45Germany: "He'll forever be the president who won the World Cup" - Lahm sorry to see Niersbach quit
Former captain of the German national football team Phillip Lahm said “he will be forever the president who won the World Cup," in Regensburg, Monday, after German Football Association (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach resigned over the ongoing 2006 World Cup scandal. Lahm expressed his sadness as Niersbach’s decision, stating “as a person, I feel bad about it and’s a pity.”
The now former DFB president is under investigation for tax evasion relating to reports that a secret $7.3m (€6.7m) slush fund was used to bribe officials to vote for Germany to host the 2006 World Cup. Mr. Niersbach has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, stating that he resigned “because I realised I had to take the political responsibility.”
Last week German police and tax inspectors raided the headquarters of the DFB in Frankfurt. The houses of Niersbach, his predecessor Theo Zwanziger, as well as former DFB secretary general Horst Schmid were also searched in the operation.
The DFB denies the allegations and indicated that it will fully cooperate with the investigation. In response to the accusations, Mr Niersbach claimed that the account was used to secure larger funding from FIFA. The deal was agreed following a meeting between the DFB president, suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Franz Beckenbauer, the president of the organising committee for the 2006 German World Cup bid, according to Niersbach. Mr Zwanziger has refuted Niersbach's claim, accusing his successor of lying. During an interview with German magazine Der Speigel, Zwanziger stated that it was “clear that a slush fund existed."
Last week’s raids stem from a report released in mid-October by Der Spiegel. The magazine claimed that the German committee responsible for organising the country's bid for the 2006 World Cup created a 'slush fund' which it used to bribe FIFA officials. Der Spiegel claims to have copies of internal documents showing that funds were used to secure the vote of unnamed Asian representatives on FIFA's executive committee for the 2006 World Cup. FIFA has said it would review the allegations.
01:45Former captain of the German national football team Phillip Lahm said “he will be forever the president who won the World Cup," in Regensburg, Monday, after German Football Association (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach resigned over the ongoing 2006 World Cup scandal. Lahm expressed his sadness as Niersbach’s decision, stating “as a person, I feel bad about it and’s a pity.”
The now former DFB president is under investigation for tax evasion relating to reports that a secret $7.3m (€6.7m) slush fund was used to bribe officials to vote for Germany to host the 2006 World Cup. Mr. Niersbach has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, stating that he resigned “because I realised I had to take the political responsibility.”
Last week German police and tax inspectors raided the headquarters of the DFB in Frankfurt. The houses of Niersbach, his predecessor Theo Zwanziger, as well as former DFB secretary general Horst Schmid were also searched in the operation.
The DFB denies the allegations and indicated that it will fully cooperate with the investigation. In response to the accusations, Mr Niersbach claimed that the account was used to secure larger funding from FIFA. The deal was agreed following a meeting between the DFB president, suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Franz Beckenbauer, the president of the organising committee for the 2006 German World Cup bid, according to Niersbach. Mr Zwanziger has refuted Niersbach's claim, accusing his successor of lying. During an interview with German magazine Der Speigel, Zwanziger stated that it was “clear that a slush fund existed."
Last week’s raids stem from a report released in mid-October by Der Spiegel. The magazine claimed that the German committee responsible for organising the country's bid for the 2006 World Cup created a 'slush fund' which it used to bribe FIFA officials. Der Spiegel claims to have copies of internal documents showing that funds were used to secure the vote of unnamed Asian representatives on FIFA's executive committee for the 2006 World Cup. FIFA has said it would review the allegations.