2006 World Cup: prosecutors in Frankfurt open a preliminary investigation into the award procedure

Prosecutors in Frankfurt (GER) have opened a preliminary investigation into the award procedure for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, stated the attorney general Nadja Niesen on 19/10/2015. This preliminary investigation is to verify suspicions of corruption in the voting process.

Germany was named host of the 2006 World Cup, after a FIFA Executive Committee vote, on 06/07/2000. South Africa, England, Morocco and Brazil were also candidates for that edition of the competition; Germany beat South Africa in the third round of voting with 12 votes against 11.

The German weekly Der Spiegel published, on 16/10/2015, that the German bid committee had formed a "slush fund", fed by the Swiss businessman Robert Louis-Dreyfus, which was used to buy votes, particularly those of Asian leaders, for the right to hold the World Cup.

"It could be corruption, fraud or embezzlement. We have not yet launched a (formal) investigation, we will do it if the suspicions are confirmed," said Nadja Niesen to the SID sports news agency on 19/10/2015.

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