Authorities suspect bribes were handed out during Euro 2024

Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala (10) breaks past Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza (23) and defender Junior Alonso (6) during their 2026 World Cup round-of-32 match at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 29 (local time). [Reuters/AFP]
Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala (10) breaks past Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza (23) and defender Junior Alonso (6) during their 2026 World Cup round-of-32 match at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 29 (local time). [Reuters/AFP]

Just two days after Germany's early World Cup exit, authorities launched a full-scale investigation into corruption allegations involving the German Football Association (DFB).

The North Rhine-Westphalia State Criminal Office and the Bochum public prosecutor's office deployed 150 investigators Tuesday morning (local time) to raid DFB headquarters in Frankfurt and the administrative offices of cities that hosted the 2024 UEFA European Championship (Euro 2024), according to the daily Bild and other outlets.

The searches covered most of the Euro 2024 host cities, including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen. Investigators are focusing on allegations that Euro 2024 GmbH — the tournament organizer jointly established by the DFB and UEFA — provided thousands of match tickets and hotel accommodations as bribes to civil servants in the host cities.

Authorities said the core of the investigation centers on charges that host-city employees received improper benefits — including invitations to watch national team matches — from organizers. Local media identified a civil servant from Gelsenkirchen city hall and a French employee of Euro 2024 GmbH as prime suspects in the bribery case.

Germany's football world finds itself in a state of crisis. The national team was eliminated from the North American World Cup on June 29 after losing to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32, failing to advance past that stage for the third consecutive tournament. Nagelsmann and the squad returned home quietly Monday with no welcoming ceremony.

Although coach Julian Nagelsmann's contract runs through Euro 2028, calls for his dismissal are growing louder. Former national team player Mats Hummels and other football figures have publicly demanded his removal. Jurgen Klinsmann — who once managed the South Korean national team — also took aim at the DFB, saying the association needs to "review and discuss everything from the ground up."

Local media and fans are already speculating about potential successors, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Sebastian Hoeness and Pep Guardiola among the names circulating as candidates.


won@heraldcorp.com