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DFB Defends Against Tax Evasion Charges in Sommermärchen Trial

As the Frankfurt court scrutinizes a €6.7 million payment tied to the 2006 World Cup, the DFB maintains its innocence while facing criticism from prosecutors and judges.

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Overview

  • The DFB is accused of evading €2.7 million in taxes by misclassifying a €6.7 million payment to FIFA in 2005 as a business expense.
  • DFB lawyer Jan Olaf Leisner argued in court that the payment was a lawful repayment of a 2002 bribe loan and properly accounted for in 2006.
  • Judge Eva-Marie Distler and prosecutor Jesco Kümmel rejected the defense, highlighting multiple accounting errors and misrepresentations by the DFB.
  • The €6.7 million payment was linked to securing a €170 million FIFA grant for the 2006 World Cup, with funds ultimately traced back to a bribe involving Franz Beckenbauer and FIFA officials.
  • A final verdict on the DFB’s institutional liability and potential fine is scheduled for June 25, 2025, following the resolution of cases against individual officials last year.