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Union security raid.
As Germany bid farewell to the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Paraguay (3-4) on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, a new scandal erupted in the corridors of the Football Association.
Free tickets, luxury hotel stays and dubious perks have put the headquarters of the German Football Association under the microscope in an investigation that is expanding to include several German cities and threatens public confidence in the game.
German investigators carried out wide-ranging inspections on Wednesday, including the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) and a number of city administrative offices, as part of an investigation into possible irregularities in the distribution of tickets and hospitality packages during UEFA Euro 2024.
A joint statement from Bochum’s public prosecutor’s office and North Rhine-Westphalia’s criminal investigation office said the raids took place at several locations within the country to investigate “unauthorized benefits, including participation in an international soccer match.”
The newspaper noted:Bild:The German newspaper said the investigation involves German and French nationals and concerns hotel invitations and thousands of tickets suspected of being illegally allocated to deserving guests ahead of the start of the tournament, which was held in ten German cities.
According to the newspaper, one of the suspects is a former employee of the municipality of Gelsenkirchen, one of the host cities, and is suspected of receiving 2,400 euros worth of tickets, travel allowances and hotel accommodation, equivalent to 2,736 US dollars.
In turn, the German Football Association confirmed Official announcement His headquarters came under scrutiny, explaining. “The investigation is not related to the German Football Association as an organization, nor to any of its employees or officials. Rather, the federation is participating in these proceedings only as a witness and has pledged to cooperate fully with the authorities.”
Herbert Ruhl, Minister of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia, commented in a firm tone. “The football ticket is not part of the salary. In the state sector, anyone who asks for a bribe will pay us a visit.”
“Major events such as the European Championship depend on public trust in sport and the authorities that organize it. We will not allow that trust to be undermined by a few invitations and tickets.”
So far, the European Football Association (UEFA) has not commented on the incident, and the Bochum prosecutor’s office has refused to provide further details.
The developments come at a sensitive time for German football, which is experiencing a tumultuous week after the team’s surprise World Cup exit by Paraguay sparked public anger, heightened by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments in which he praised the team despite the defeat.
