Police
The German Football Association (DFB) headquarters were raided on Wednesday, with 150 investigators descending on the premises as part of a bribery probe. The explosive development comes in the wake of the nation's World Cup elimination at the hands of Paraguay on Monday.
According to German outlet Bild, the raid aims to gather evidence for investigations into a 66-year-old German national and a 46-year-old Frenchman over allegations surrounding hotel invitations and thousands of tickets thought to have been unlawfully distributed ahead of Germany's hosting of Euro 2024. Suspicions of 'structured preferential treatment' and bribery have emerged following the internal distribution of tickets to 'favoured guests'.
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The DFB's Frankfurt am Main headquarters served as the base for Euro 2024 GmbH, the company established specifically to oversee the tournament. A Bavarian firm was also subject to a raid, while city authorities in Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, and Munich are similarly being searched by the investigative commission.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul told BILD: "A football ticket is not part of a salary. Anyone in the public service who expects a bribe will receive a visit from us.
"Large events like the European Football Championship, in particular, depend on people's trust in the sport and in the authorities who make it possible. We will not allow this trust to be damaged by a few invitations and tickets."
The Frenchman under investigation is understood to have overseen relations with host cities. It is claimed that he extended invitations to the heads of Euro 2024 offices for top-tier matches, which apparently included the semi-final clash between Spain and France in Munich for the German man under investigation.
Including travel and accommodation costs, he is alleged to have benefited from a financial package worth approximately €2,400 (£2,065). The individual no longer works for the city's administration and has reportedly attracted police interest on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement.
His residence is among the properties set to be searched on Wednesday. Bild reports that the Frenchman has no previous criminal record.
On the field, the DFB will be compelled to examine their World Cup showing following their shock elimination at the hands of Paraguay. Die Mannschaft were knocked out on penalties by the South American side, while speculation surrounding Julian Nagelsmann's future had already reached fever pitch, with Jurgen Klopp rumoured to be in contention for the post.
Nagelsmann remains contracted until after the European Championship in 2028. The former Bayern Munich manager is content to remain in his role until informed otherwise.
He said: "I am available. If the DFB [German FA] wants it, then I will do the Euro 2028, and if not then they have to tell me. I'm not someone who runs away."