German Football Head Niersbach Resigns Amid FIFA Payment Controversy

By Christian Radnedge

German football federation president Wolfgang Niersbach has resigned amid in the wake of allegations surrounding an alleged payment made to FIFA in relation to the 2006 World Cup.

Niersbach, ed an executive committee member of both world and European governing bodies FIFA and UEFA, was due to face regional and national associates today to address the mysterious €6.7m loan and repayment.

The controversy was revealed in a German newspaper, as part of the ongoing FIFA scandal. The paper reports the German World Cup organising committee paid the sum to FIFA, apparently declared internally as a subsidy for an opening gala which never took place.

The late Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the former head of adidas, allegedly made funds available to the bidding committee, of which Franz Beckenbauer was the head, in 2000.

The report suggests the money was forwarded by FIFA, at the Germans’ request, to repay the private loan from Louis-Dreyfus.

Niersbach had claimed that FIFA had told Beckenbauer the payment was necessary to generate a hosting costs grant of €170m in return. This has been denied by FIFA.

In a resignation letter posted on the DFB website, Niersbach denied having any involvement in the payments, but said he was standing down to protect the federation.