Franz Beckenbauer Will Reportedly Escape Ban Amid FIFA World Cup Allegations

Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer will reportedly not serve a ban after allegedly refusing to aid the investigation into the voting process that awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

The Telegraph's Ben Rumsby reported on Friday Beckenbauer will escape that punishment despite initially failing to co-operate with the investigation into the votes conducted to award the next two World Cups. The report read:

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Under-fire Germany legend Beckenbauer and was on the brink of being fined for his refusal to co-operate with the investigation into the vote that handed the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar.

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As exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport, Fifa vice-president Angel Maria Villar Llona was on Friday punished for his open hostility towards the governing body’s then chief investigator, Michael J Garcia, during his inquiry into the scandal.

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UEFA vice-President Angel Villar Llona—acting as the European body's head during Michel Platini's 90-day suspension—was fined 25,000 Swiss francs (£16,376) and given a warning for a similar offence. Both officials were eventually coerced into helping the investigation.

Rumsby's report didn't fail to note Beckenbauer is facing scrutiny for unrelated allegations linked to alleged bribes made to secure Germany's right to host the 2006 World Cup.

A suspension for Villar Llona would have landed UEFA in more hot water considering the Spaniard was elected in an interim capacity during Platini's own ban, preventing the need to elect another temporary chief.

Beckenbauer's plight looks likely to continue after he was implicated in signing an agreement with disgraced former CONCACAF head Jack Warner to secure 2006 World Cup votes. Rainer Koch, an acting vice-president of the German Football Federation (DFB), told German broadcaster ZDF the former Bayern superstar must be held accountable (h/t DW Sports):

"In this contract, various services, not direct monetary payments, are promised by the German side." He added: "Our request is that he gets more intensively involved in clearing up the affair. There is no other way, there are others who know more than Wolfgang Niersbach."

Alex Richards of the Mirror asserted Beckenbauer looks "done for" amid a growing mound of accusations and dark revelations:

Niersbach resigned from his position as DFB President earlier this week.

Beckenbauer will be relieved to escape severe punishment in relation to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but those allegations linked to Germany 2006 still hang over his head.