FIFA Investigating Allegations Germany Used Bribes to Host 2006 World Cup

The German Football Association (DFB) denied claims Friday that a €6.7 million (£5 million) payment was made to FIFA in 2005 as part of a slush fund organised to secure hosting votes for the 2006 World Cup.

The governing body released a statement on its official website confirming it launched an internal investigation "with the aim of elucidating the entire process," but found no evidence of impropriety. FIFA is likewise opening an investigation into the allegations, as Rob Harris of the Associated Press reported:

A passage from the German Football Association statement reads:

"

Through the investigations, DFB became aware that a 6.7 million euro payment, which was paid to FIFA in April 2005 by the organisational committee of the 2006 World Cup, may not have been used for its intended purpose (the FIFA culture program). This payment was in no way linked to the awarding of the 2006 World Cup, which had been decided 5 years previously.

"

It's the latest allegation to come in what's been an unravelling year for FIFA, world football's governing body, as 2015 looks ever more likely to be remembered as one of an incriminating nature.

German website Spiegel (h/t the Telegraph) claimed Germany's bid committee used a £6.7 million loan "to secure the four votes belonging to Asian representatives on the 24-person FIFA Executive Committee."

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Spiegel claimed Wolfgang Niersbach, the current head of the DFB, and Franz Beckenbauer, a German football legend and face of the 2006 bid, were "aware of the fund by 2005 at the latest."

The alleged loan came from the former chief executive of German sportswear manufacturer Adidas, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, who died in 2009.

Sports writer Mauricio Savarese pointed out that the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was also tinged with reports of corruption, with this latest report only working to further hurt FIFA's reputation:

"

The 2014 World Cup was always associated with corruption. People ignored me when I said Germany was accused of buying theirs. How about now?

— Mauricio Savarese (@MSavarese) October 16, 2015"

The Daily Mail's Matt Lawton added his concern, implying there isn't often smoke without fire in such matters:

FIFA was already hit by unsavoury headlines earlier in October after it came to light that its ethics committee suspended president Sepp Blatter for 90 days, per BBC Sport. Secretary general Jerome Valcke and UEFA president Michel Platini received identical punishments.

The DFB appears resolute that it committed no wrongdoing en route to hosting the World Cup nine years ago, but FIFA's ongoing investigation will work to uncover any truths that haven't yet come to light.