Germany reportedly bribed FIFA to get 2006 World Cup

'Sueddeutche Zeitung' reported that FBI was probing 2006 World Cup after allegations that it was bribed by German officials. The Munich-based daily newspaper says that FBI has opened corruption investigation and is concerned about suspect payment made by the German FA (DFB) to FIFA just before the tournament was awarded. DFB said the money was a loan of 10 million Swiss francs (6.7 million euros), from then-Adidas manager Robert Louis-Dreyfus, to FIFA in 2002 to gain approval for the World Cup organizing committee. But it was unclear who exactly receive the money. The payment is also the target for tax evasion by German and Swiss authorities. Both, the chairman of the 2006 World Cup organizing committee Franz Beckenbauer, and former DFB president who resigned over the scandal Wolfgang Niersbach, have denied any wrongdoing and are cooperating with German and Swiss authorities.
In October another German magazine 'Der Spiegel' also reported that money was used to secure votes of Asian representatives from the organizing committee. The magazine mentioned figure of 10.3 million Swiss francs.