Swiss open new football probe on Germany’s 2006 World Cup
Franz Beckenbauer
(CNS): The FIFA corruption scandal that has shaken the entire football world has moved to Germany. Swiss authorities have now launched an investigation into the German Football Association and four officials, including veteran international football star Franz Beckenbauer. The probe is looking at allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation over the 2006 World Cup.
Alongside Beckenbauer, Horst Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach have been named by the attorney general in Switzerland as suspects in the case. The men were all members of the executive board on the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In the latest chapter in the sorry saga of football corruption, Swiss officials said in a press statement that the investigations are focusing on a $10 million gala event from which association funds were diverted to pay a debt that was not owed by the German Football Association. The four men are suspected of “willfully” misleading other members of the executive board, and some of the alleged criminal acts were carried out in Switzerland.
FIFA had already started an enquiry of its own earlier this year into where the cash had gone.
The football corruption scandal began in earnest last May when Cayman’s own Jeff Webb, the former CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president, was arrested along with several other officials after the US authorities revealed a massive ongoing corruption probe. Webb has pleaded guilty to a number of corruption offences and remains under house arrest in Atlanta, Georgia, on a $10 million bond. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November.
Meanwhile, concerns about the mismanagement of the Cayman Islands Football Association’s funds in Cayman have still not been addressed, and despite the promises of CIFA President Lee Ramoon, who was elected to the post in May, the possible misappropriation of millions of dollars has not been addressed.
Category: Crime, Europe, World News
Well, at least there still hope for sometthing to be done loacally. It has been over a year since the auditors handed the matter to the police, Bruce Blake chose to “stand down”, Lee Ramoon was elected as the establishment candidate and has not given an update since he was elected, the local football continious business as usual, no Senior Teams and the bare minimun for the age limited teams. Remember, according to FIFA each association got or is getting $1.5 million this hear. Bruce Blake still has no full time employment? Maybe he does not need to work.
Do you know why Bruce Blake is not employed? What if he chooses not to work for a firm or individual, do you know if he is not self employed? Do you think he squandered all the money that he has worked for in over 20 years? Do you know what his assets and investments are? Do you know his net worth before he became involved with CIFA and FIF? If you have no idea about the man keep your trap close. Not everyone is corrupt or hangs on to organizations or people looking for hand outs or hand ups. Some people really do work, save and invest their money wisely. Maybe Bruce was one of the wise men that is why he can afford not to work at this juncture. Advice to you try and do the same.
Sorry, but the concept of the Swiss investigating the Germans doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.
Knowing what we all know at this point, can anyone reasonably explain how the investigation of CIFA is not a police matter of some priority? Is it not in the territorial interest to find the assets that should have gone into the game for our kids?!? Shouldn’t the ACC wonder why our politicians refuse to pursue answers to obvious questions?
Ssshhhhh. Brotherhood don’t investigate brotherhood
Don’t worry too much about the puppets be more concerned about the puppet masters. Caymanians need to stop being the fall guy for every con and con artist.
Who cares about the past world cups. Its a little late for that now. The whole world has known that FIFA is corrupt for years. The US just threw their dollies out of their stroller when they didn’t get chosen to host the world cup and exposed them. How about we focus on the two upcoming world cups that were obviously bought and deal with that corruption.
Oh? What is the statute of limitations on diverting millions of dollars for personal gain?
These people are out of control.