Legendary Beckenbauer's home searched in corruption investigation

The home of football legend Franz Beckenbauer has been searched as part of an investigation into his alleged corruption.

Beckenbauer (right) was accused of corruption. Photo: Daily Mail

The Swiss prosecutor's office has confirmed that Franz Beckenbauer is one of four subjects of a criminal investigation into alleged corruption by German football officials. The 70-year-old legend's Austrian home was searched on September 1.

Beckenbauer won the World Cup with Germany as both a player and a coach. After retiring from the field, he continued to play an important role in Germany's 2006 World Cup bid. However, it was his activities on the election committee that led to the investigation of the former player nicknamed "The Emperor".

The process began last November. Beckenbauer and three others, Theo Zwanziger, Wolfgang Niersbach and Horst Schmidt, were accused of bribery to buy votes to help Germany win the race to host the World Cup.

The focus of the investigation is on the £6.7m paid by the German Football Association (DFB) to FIFA between 2002 and 2005.

The DFB has released a 361-page report explaining the payment, which has led investigators to determine that Beckenbauer and his associates committed fraud and money laundering.

Previously, the German football legend denied paying bribes to help Germany win the right to host the 2006 World Cup, while former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also denied being involved in the above payment.

Franz Beckenbauer is the latest name to be confirmed as part of the FIFA corruption scandal. Investigations are still being conducted by the Swiss Attorney General's Office in coordination with the US Department of Justice.

According to vntinnhanh