Germany Faces Corruption Probe Involving Football Association amid Round of 32 Elimination Shock

Allegations of Favoritism in Euro 2024 Ticket Distribution
150 Investigators Deployed Simultaneously

The German national football team has failed to advance to the Round of 16 at the World Cup for the third consecutive time, and now even the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) has been raided. As suspicions have arisen that various conveniences such as match tickets and accommodations were provided to public officials in the host cities during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, the German football world is in turmoil.

German players disappointed after losing the Round of 32 match against Paraguay in the World Cup. Photo by AP Yonhap News.

According to local media outlets such as Reuters and the daily Bild, the State Criminal Police Office of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Bochum Public Prosecutor's Office conducted raids on July 1 (local time) at the DFB's headquarters in Frankfurt and the administrative offices of the Euro 2024 host cities.

Approximately 150 investigators were mobilized for the operation, targeting administrative agencies in tournament host cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Gelsenkirchen, as well as several companies.

Allegations of Providing Tickets and Accommodation to Public Officials

Investigators are examining whether 'Euro 2024 GmbH', the tournament operator jointly established by the DFB and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), provided improper benefits such as match tickets and hotel accommodations to public officials in the host cities.

The investigation also covers suspicions that, in addition to match invitations, advance purchase rights and discounts for tickets—allowing purchase ahead of the general public—may have been granted.

Local media reported that a 66-year-old German who worked in Gelsenkirchen at the time and a 46-year-old French national affiliated with the tournament operator are under investigation. The German suspect is alleged to have received conveniences such as match tickets, travel, and accommodation worth about 2,400 euros.

The investigative authorities stated, "The focus of the investigation is undue advantages, such as national team match invitations, that appear to have been received by suspects working in the host cities from event organizers."

DFB: "The Association Is Not a Target of the Investigation"

However, the DFB drew a line, stating that neither the association itself nor its officers or employees are targets of the investigation. The DFB announced, "The association is involved in these proceedings only as a witness and is fully cooperating with investigators."

This raid took place just two days after the German national team lost to Paraguay in the Round of 32 at the North and Central America World Cup.

Germany advanced through the group stage with two wins and one loss, but was eliminated after a penalty shootout against Paraguay. The team has now failed to reach the Round of 16 for three consecutive tournaments, following the 2018 Russia World Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Jurgen Klinsmann, former head coach of the Korean national football team, criticized in an interview with ESPN, "There was a lack of energy, and the team was neither decisive nor aggressive enough," insisting that German football needs to be reviewed from top to bottom.

Although Coach Julian Nagelsmann is under contract until Euro 2028, calls for his early dismissal are spreading. With the early World Cup exit and the emergence of favoritism allegations surrounding the management of international tournaments, turmoil in German football is growing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.