Franz Beckenbauer to Answer Questions from FIFA Ethics Committee

June 16, 2014

German soccer legend and former FIFA executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer is content to answer questions from the world football governing body regarding an investigation into World Cup bidding following a ban by FIFA.

Beckenbauer’s spokesman Marcus Hoefl revealed the former World Cup-winning captain and manager of West Germany would respond to enquiries by FIFA before 27 June. 

The move comes after Beckenbauer was given a 90-day ban by FIFA’s ethics committee for refusing to answer questions over the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 competition to Qatar. 

A statement released via social media by Hoefl read: “Franz Beckenbauer told FIFA on Saturday that he would answer the questions by the ethics committee investigation by June 27 at the latest. 

“It is our understanding that there is thus no longer any ‘suspicion of a possible violation’ against FIFA rules so we are assuming that the provisional sanctions against him will be removed without delay.

“This procedure is thus completed: Franz Beckenbauer will answer the questions in writing in German.” 

Hoefl added that Beckenbauer was “extremely surprised” by the FIFA ban and said the governing body never gave him a chance to answer the charges that he was under suspicion and not informed in advance that the decision to ban him was looming. 

“It was the first time that FIFA didn’t know how to contact me on the telephone,” Beckenbauer is quoted as saying in the statement. 

“I had also assumed that I didn’t have to answer the questions because I no longer have any official capacity at FIFA. But that’s all cleared up now.”