"The DFB's Shady Past" Trials End in Severe Injuries for the German Football Association
Disenchanted Summer Finale Results in Harsh Settlement.
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After a grueling 34 days of litigation, the court has finally reached its verdict in the investigation surrounding the dubious payments made prior to the 2006 World Cup by the German Football Association (DFB). Though the monetary penalty may seem steep, it's the stern words from Judge Eva-Marie Distler that have left the DFB reeling.
In her final statement, Judge Distler showed only a smidgeon of leniency, acknowledging the cherished memories of the World Cup and Franz Beckenbauer's contributions. However, she didn't hold back, declaring, "The ends do not justify the means." Before offering any mercy, Distler lambasted the DFB without mercy, dubbing it a losing association with astronomical legal fees and no personal accountability.
The association is now required to pay a fine of €130,000 (€20,000 of which has been waived due to the prolonged proceedings). The Frankfurt am Main Regional Court's reprimand for the DFB was unforgiving.
Football "The DFB: Unscrupulous and Reckless" Courts' Harsh Verdict: DFB Slapped with Fine "The DFB cannot act as if it stands above the law, even in the adoration of the German public," remarked Distler: "The cooperation with the DFB during the investigations was deplorable. They are a disaster. The exorbitant legal fees incurred should have been avoided by sensible individuals, but apparently, such is not the case for the DFB."
"The DFB Cozied up to FIFA's Corrupt System"
The court affirmed tax evasion as an established fact. Prosecutors had demanded a fine of €270,000, whereas the defense sought an acquittal. Chairing the case, Judge Distler stated, "Former DFB officials intentionally evaded taxes. This fact is not disputed by the court," setting the stage for the verdict. "The DFB was entangled in FIFA's corrupt system," Distler continued, emphasizing German football's complicity in the tainted global footballing body.
The prosecution declared the verdict a success, with Chief Prosecutor Jesco Kümmel noting, "Today is a triumph for the Frankfurt/Main tax office and Hessian justice system. The court has unequivocally stated that the DFB evaded millions in taxes in 2006." Kümmel anticipates the DFB will appeal, leaving the ultimate decision to the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).
Meanwhile, the DFB maintains hope of an appeal, waiting for the written reasons for the judgment. In their statement, the association claimed "no actual tax loss occurred" and that the court had taken the extenuating circumstances into account in determining the fine, thereby "remaining within the lower range of possible fines."
The Daunting €22 Million Question
The initial three defendants were absent from the final phase of the trial. The proceedings against Theo Zwanziger, Wolfgang Niersbach, and Horst R. Schmidt, former top DFB officials, were suspended upon the payment of fines—Zwanziger owed €10,000, Niersbach €25,000, and Schmidt €65,000.
Evidence from the trial reveals that the €6.7 million initially declared by the DFB as World Cup gala expenses were, in fact, paid as a bribe for World Cup Chief Beckenbauer, orchestrated to sway FIFA Finance Commission members, including Mohamed bin Hammam[1][5][2]. The €6.7 million was transferred from the German organizing committee (OK) through FIFA to the former adidas CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus in 2005, with the identical sum having been paid three years earlier by Louis-Dreyfus to bin Hammam through Qatar[1][5].
Following the scandal, the DFB's tax-exempt status was retroactively revoked, leaving the association liable for €22 million in back taxes[1][5][3]. The DFB aims to dispute its tax payments in the Finance Court in Kassel but faces a significant hurdle after the adverse ruling from the regional court.
In light of the accusations and the potentially crippling financial implications, the DFB has taken legal action against its former president, Zwanziger[1].
Sources: ntv.de, ses/sid
- DFB
- Tax Evasion
- Corruption
- Football
- Fraud
- Despite the DFB's attempts to avoid paying back taxes, the accumulated debt stands at an alarming €22 million due to tax evasion and corruption related to the World Cup gala expenses.
- The DFB's questionable actions, including cozying up to FIFA's corrupt system, have led to a revocation of their tax-exempt status and a potential disaster for the association.
- The DFB's gaming of the employment policy regarding its former top officials has drawn controversy, as the association faces legal action from its former president, Theo Zwanziger.
