In Frankfurt, Germany, former German Football Association (DFB) presidents Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach, along with former secretary general Horst Schmidt, began their trial on Monday. They are accused of tax evasion related to the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany.
The case has been ongoing for years and has involved multiple investigations, including one commissioned by the DFB. At the center of the trial is a 6.7 million euro payment linked to a 2006 World Cup event that never took place.
Niersbach, who resigned as DFB president in 2015 due to the scandal, along with his predecessor Zwanziger and former secretary general Schmidt, are alleged to have arranged incorrect tax returns for 2006 to avoid paying millions in taxes.
All three defendants deny any wrongdoing in relation to the tax evasion charges.
The tax return in question included a 6.7 million euro payment from the DFB to FIFA for the 2006 event, which prosecutors claim was in fact used for another purpose and should not have been offset against taxes.
Zwanziger expressed his desire for the truth to come to light, stating, “I always wished for the truth to be on the table. That goes only through an open process.” He maintained his innocence, saying, “I am relaxed going into this process as I am certain that I did not evade any tax – and only that is the matter at hand here.”
The 6.7 million euro payment has sparked various investigations over the years amid allegations that it was used as a slush fund to secure votes for Germany’s bid to host the 2006 tournament.
In 2016, an investigation commissioned by the DFB claimed that the sum was actually a repayment of a loan via FIFA from former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
In 2017, the German tax office ordered the DFB to pay over 20 million in back taxes related to the 2006 fiscal year.
The trial is expected to last several months as the defendants defend themselves against the tax evasion charges.
($1 = 0.9216 euros)
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
