One of the most legendary players in the history of soccer in Germany, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away on Monday. The star's family confirmed his passing to German news agency DPA. "It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded […]

Berlin (AFP) – A majority of Germans believe football legend Franz Beckenbauer no longer deserves the nickname 'Kaiser Franz', given the latest revelations concerning his role in organising the scandal-hit 2006 World Cup. According to a poll published Wednesday on the website of German magazine Stern, 55 percent of those surveyed believe the nickname 'Kaiser' […]

Berlin (AFP) – Lawyers for football legend Franz Beckenbauer on Wednesday rejected claims he was paid millions as chairman of Germany's World Cup organising committee and sought to hide the sum from tax authorities. News website Spiegel Online had reported that Beckenbauer drew a fee of more than five million euros ($5.6 million) and that […]

Berlin (AFP) – Franz Beckenbauer on Friday cancelled a public appointment in Zurich as Swiss prosecutors investigate corruption allegations over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. The German football legend, who owns a South African winery, cancelled an appointment to attend a public wine tasting in a Zurich hotel to present his […]

Geneva (AFP) – Swiss federal prosecutors on Thursday announced that they had opened criminal proceedings against German legend Franz Beckenbauer amid corruption allegations in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. Beckenbauer, 70, is under investigation with three other members of the 2006 World Cup organising committee — Hans-Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and […]

Berlin (AFP) – In football-obsessed Germany, Franz Beckenbauer is referred to as "the Kaiser" — the regal defender who steered his country to World Cup triumphs as both a player and a manager. Beckenbauer, who turns 71 on September 11, still enjoys legendary status, but his reputation has been badly tarnished by his role in […]

Geneva (AFP) – Swiss federal prosecutors said Thursday they have opened criminal proceedings against German football legend Franz Beckenbauer over allegations of corruption in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. Beckenbauer, 70, is under investigation with three other members of the 2006 World Cup organising committee — Hans-Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and […]

FIFA's ethics committee on Wednesday sanctioned German football legend Franz Beckenbauer with a warning and a light fine for failing to cooperate with a probe into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The investigation into the controversial decisions to award the two tournaments to Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) culminated in the […]