Corruption is Everywhere - Even in German Football

German FA officials charged with fraud

BERN • Swiss prosecutors yesterday charged former members of the German football federation (DFB) and a former Fifa official with fraud over the true purpose of a €6.7 million (S$10.3 million) payment before the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Former DFB president Theo Zwanziger, its general secretary Horst R. Schmidt and former Fifa general secretary Urs Linsi are accused of jointly committing fraud, while Wolfgang Niersbach - Zwanziger's successor as DFB president - has been charged with being complicit in fraud.

The Swiss attorney-general's office said that proceedings against Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, who headed the 2006 World Cup organising committee, will be conducted separately because he is currently unable to participate "for health reasons".

ASSOCIATED PRESS