2006 WC fund allegation may be probed

German prosecutors are considering whether there are grounds to investigate allegations that a slush fund was used to help secure the 2006 World Cup.

Associated Press reported that Nadja Niesen, a spokeswoman for Frankfurt prosecutors, had said possible fraud, breach of trust or corruption could all be investigated.

She could not say when the process of determining whether there is a case for investigation would be concluded.

On Friday, German magazine Der Spiegel alleged that a slush fund of more than 10 million Swiss francs had been set up to buy the votes of four Asian representatives on FIFA’s executive committee.

The German football federation (DFB) has strongly denied the allegations.

Franz Beckenbauer, who led the organising committee for the 2006 tournament, in which Germany reached the semifinals, was reported as saying: “I never gave money to anyone in order to acquire votes so that Germany is awarded the 2006 World Cup.

“I am certain that no other member of the bid committee did something like that.”

Spiegel alleged that both Beckenbauer and Wolfgang Niersbach, the president of the DFB who was then vice president of the organising committee, were aware of the existence of the fund.

Niersbach said he had asked his lawyers to begin legal action over the claims.

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