Twist in the DFB Trial: Judge Proposes Discontinuation of Charges Against Zwanziger
Action taken to withdraw allegations against Zwanziger - Case against Twenty will be dropped by the court
The summer fairytale trial just took an unexpected turn! The Frankfurt Regional Court is considering dropping the charges against ex-DFB President Theo Zwanziger for suspected tax dodging. This proposal came from presiding judge, Eva-Marie Distler, on day 25 of the trial. The charges might be dropped if Zwanziger pays €5,000 to a charitable organization. Both his lawyer and the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office will comment on this proposal during the next hearing on April 3.
Notably, the judge asserts that at 79, Zwanziger didn't actively aid in concealing a €6.7 million DFB payment to FIFA in April 2005. According to the court, the DFB's booking of this amount as an operating expense was allowed under existing knowledge. "We've got the wrong guy in the dock," stated Distler.
Upon evaluating the evidence, it's been found that the transfer of funds was essentially a repayment of a CHF 10 million loan that Franz Beckenbauer received from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, a French entrepreneur, in 2002. This money was then disbursed through five installments to Mohamed bin Hammam, a FIFA executive member's company account in Qatar. In return, the 2006 World Cup organizing committee received a subsidy of CHF 250 million from FIFA to host the event in Germany.
The DFBTheo Zwanziger*Frankfurt Regional CourtTax DodgingFIFA*Frankfurt am MainPublic Prosecutor's OfficeCharitable Organization*Franz BeckenbauerRobert Louis-DreyfusMohamed bin Hammam**
The Frankfurt Regional Court is considering dropping charges against ex-DFB President Theo Zwanziger for suspected tax dodging, proposed by presiding judge Eva-Marie Distler.If Zwanziger pays €5,000 to a charitable organization, the charges might be dropped, as the judge asserts that at 79, Zwanziger didn't actively aid in concealing a €6.7 million DFB payment to FIFA.The transfer of funds was essentially a repayment of a CHF 10 million loan that Franz Beckenbauer received from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, with the proceeds disbursed to Mohamed bin Hammam through multiple installments.
