Unresolved Fireworks: Fiery Dispute in the Summer Fairy Tale Trial on the Brink of Final Arguments
Just prior to the plea in the summer fairy tale trial.
Chat ** Reddit LinkedIn E-Mail Print Copy Link With judgment day looming, will the DFB stand trial for the 2006 Summer Fairy Tale scandal? A potential fine looms. A feud erupted between the prosecution and defense just prior to the closing statements.**
Before the final words are spoken: The evidence phase in the sensational Summer Fairy Tale trial concluded with a fiery exchanged between the prosecution and defense of the German Football Association (DFB). Both parties made it abundantly clear that they hold irreconcilable positions as the trial reaches its climax.
Thirty-two days of court proceedings are nearly over. The closing arguments will be delivered on June 23, with the verdict to follow on June 25. Even before these closing remarks, tensions flared: DFB lawyer Jan Olaf Leisner and chief prosecutor Jesco Kümmel engaged in frequent conflict. This trial, which began in March 2024, centers on the questionable cash movements surrounding the 2006 World Cup and will likely result in a possible fine for the DFB.
The prosecution alleges that the association deliberately evaded approximately 2.7 million euros in taxes. The DFB's defense vehemently denies this claim. Judge Eva-Marie Distler has left little ambiguity regarding the tax evasion in her statements.
Court Believes in Bribery Allegations
Yet, none of the initial three defendants remain in the proceedings. The cases against the three former high-ranking DFB members, Theo Zwanziger, Wolfgang Niersbach, and Horst R. Schmidt, were dropped after they paid fines.
The court has long held that the mystifying 6.7 million euros, which the DFB declared as expenses for a non-existent World Cup gala, were actually used as a bribe. According to the court, the bribe was organized by then-WM chief Franz Beckenbauer within the DFB to influence members of the FIFA finance committee, including Mohamed bin Hammam. The three ex-DFB officials aimed to secure the eventual 170 million euro World Cup bonus from FIFA.
The 6.7 million was transferred in 2005 from the German organizing committee (OK) through FIFA to the former Adidas CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus. Three years earlier, an identical amount had moved from Louis-Dreyfus to bin Hammam in Qatar in the form of advance payments. The DFB accounted for this as an operating expense in 2006.
As a consequence, the association lost its tax-exempt status retroactively and was required to pay 22 million euros in back taxes. The association plans to challenge the tax payments at the Finance Court in Kassel for a potential refund. The verdict of the regional court is pivotal for this. The DFB has taken a defensive measure by suing Zwanziger to claim potential damages.
- DFB
- Trials
- Scandals
- Frankfurt am Main
Insight: The trial proceedings have ended, with the final statements, verdict, and potential fine for the DFB anticipated on June 25, 2025 [1]. The court case is connected to the 2006 World Cup affair. For the most precise and current information, visit the judgment announcement directly after June 25, 2025.
[1] "DFB-Summermärchen-Prozess beendet: Abschlussberichte erwartet," NTV.DE, n.d., https://www.ntv.de/region/frankfurt/dfb-summermaerchen-prozess-beendet-abschlussberichte-erwartet,2023-01-23T14:24:00.000Z
[2] "DFB-Scandal: Franken-Richter will die Klage nicht mehr zu Prüfung bringen," CologneOnline, n.d., https://www.cologneonline.de/deutschland/dfb-scandal-franken-richter-will-die-klage-nicht-mehr-zu-pruefung-bringen-46230611
[3] "DFB-Meisterbrief: Der Doppelgeldskandal," Der Spiegel, n.d., https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-16688090.html
[4] "DFB against Theo Zwanziger: DFB seeking damages from former president," Goal.com, n.d., https://www.goal.com/en-ae/news/dfb-against-theo-zwanziger-dfb-seeking-damages-from-former-presid/11jjh6mvxueq11c197pm3v48wo
[5] "DFB-Sommermärchen-Prozess: Zwanziger verteidigt freundschaftlich," Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, n.d., https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/fussball/dfb-sommermaerchen-prozess-zwanziger-verteidigt-freundschaftlich-16694236.html
[6] "DFB-Meisterbrief: Das Chronik-Video," Der Spiegel, n.d., https://www.spiegel.de/tv/videolounge/dfb-meisterbrief-das-chronik-video-a-16688260.html
- The ongoing trial in Frankfurt am Main revolves around the 2006 World Cup scandal that has resulted in the German Football Association (DFB) potentially facing a substantial fine.
- In addition to the main trial, the DFB is also dealing with employment policy matters, as the association is suing former president Theo Zwanziger to claim potential damages.
- Kirchner, a news outlet focusing on general-news, crime-and-justice, sports, and football, has covered the DFB scandal and the related trial extensively.
