Egypt's SCZone posts record EGP 11.6b revenue in FY24/25    Egypt to begin second phase of universal health insurance in Minya    Madrid trade talks focus on TikTok as US and China seek agreement    Egypt hosts 4th African Trade Ministers' Retreat to accelerate AfCFTA implementation    Egypt's Investment Minister, World Bank discuss strengthening partnership    El Hamra Port emerges as regional energy hub attracting foreign investment: Petroleum Minister    Power of Proximity: How Egyptian University Students Fall in Love with Their Schools Via Social Media Influencers    Egypt wins Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Esna revival project    Egypt's Sisi, Qatar's Emir condemn Israeli strikes, call for Gaza ceasefire    EHA launches national telemedicine platform with support from Egyptian doctors abroad    Egypt's Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart meet in Doha    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Emergency summit in Doha as Gaza toll rises, Israel targets Qatar    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Beckenbauer denies claims bribes secured 2006 World Cup
Published in Ahram Online on 18 - 10 - 2015

Soccer great Franz Beckenbauer said Sunday he never paid anyone to secure votes for Germany's 2006 World Cup bid following allegations that bribes were involved.
''I never had money given to anyone to acquire votes for the awarding of the 2006 football World Cup to Germany,'' said Beckenbauer, who headed the bidding committee, in a statement issued through his management. ''And I am certain that no other member of the bidding committee did it either.''
The 70-year-old Beckenbauer led West Germany to the World Cup title as captain in 1974 and again as coach in 1990. Arguably the most influential figure in German football, Beckenbauer was responding to Friday's report by German newsweekly Der Spiegel which alleged a slush fund of 10.3 million Swiss francs (about $6 million at that time) was set up to buy the votes of four Asian representatives on FIFA's 24-member executive committee.
German football federation (DFB) president Wolfgang Niersbach rejected the allegations Saturday in an interview published on the DFB's own website.
''The World Cup was not bought,'' Niersbach said of Germany's 12-11 win over South Africa in the 2000 vote.
Niersbach was also involved in Germany's bid and Spiegel said that he, Beckenbauer and other high-ranking football officials were aware of the alleged slush fund by 2005 at the latest. That is when former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus, who reportedly provided the funding, asked for the money back before the World Cup began. By then it was 6.7 million euros. Louis-Dreyfus died in 2009.
The DFB transferred 6.7 million euros to FIFA in 2005 and Spiegel alleges that this money was transferred again to a Zurich account belonging to Louis-Dreyfus. The DFB has acknowledged the payment to FIFA but says it is unaware of where the money ended up.
''To clear it up we have the control committee investigating internally and the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer externally,'' Niersbach said. ''The outcome of the ongoing investigations is open but I can already definitely rule out that the payment was related to the awarding of the World Cup in 2000, due to the timing of the payment process.''
In its full report published Saturday, Spiegel referred to a ''secret paper'' from Nov. 23, 2004 concerning a planned monetary transfer upon which ''the agreed payment for RLD'' was written in what the magazine said was Niersbach's handwriting. Spiegel suggested ''RLD'' referred to Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
''I can't remember it exactly, especially as I only had limited involvement in financial transactions in my marketing and media role as vice-president of the organizing committee,'' Niersbach said. He questioned whether the note was even in his handwriting and asked for Spiegel to hand it over for checks.
Former interior minister Otto Schily and World Cup organizing committee vice-president Fedor Radmann also dismissed Spiegel's allegations.
(For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/161263.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.