1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Report: Zwanziger testifies in court

Kai Dambach (SID)February 19, 2016

The former president of the German football association appeared in court on Wednesday to defend his role in the 2006 World Cup organization committee.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HytO
Theo Zwanziger Pressegespräch Kamera
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Frey

The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday that former head of the German football association (DFB), Theo Zwanziger, appeared in a Frankfurt court on Wednesday on account of the 2006 World Cup affair. The most serious charge against Zwanziger is tax evasion but he "continues to be very confident that the process will turn out all right for me," said Zwanziger to the SZ.

The scandal broke in October, 2015 after an article in German news magazine "Der Spiegel" revealed a questionable use of 6.7 million euros was wrongly used for tax purposes as operating expenses. Also included in the accusation in the article were former DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach and former DFB general secretary and treasurer Horst R. Schmidt. All three men have denied the charges against them.

Zwanziger was the DFB president just after the 2006 World Cup until 2012. Niersbach was the next DFB president and was forced to resign November 9, 2015 due to the scandal.

Freshfields law firm is continuing to go through the DFB and will publish their final report on March 4.