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Germany`s World Cup image tarnished thanks to stadium bribery
Dortmund, Germany, Mar 22: The bribery affair around Munich`s stadium for the 2006 World Cup has damaged the image of the host nation Germany, organising committee head Franz Beckenbauer has reiterated.
Dortmund, Germany, Mar 22: The bribery affair around Munich's stadium for the 2006 World Cup has damaged the image of the host nation Germany, organising committee head Franz Beckenbauer has reiterated.
''Damage has been done. Of course we are asked about it at meetings with (the ruling body) Fifa (at their headquarters) in Zurich. Representatives from Africa and Asia are asking what's going on,'' said Beckenbauer.
''The affair has made headlines around the world.''
Beckenbauer was speaking at a so-called countdown event in Dortmund, one of 12 host cities for the June 9- July 9, 2006, tournament.
But Beckenbauer also said that construction at the Allianz-Arena, which is due to host the opening match of the World Cup and five further games of the tournament, is going ahead as planned.
The arena, which is a project run jointly by Munich's Bundesliga clubs Bayern and 1860 Munich, is due to be completed in 2005.
Last week, four men including the now resigned 1860 Munich president Karl-Heinz Wildmoser and his son were arrested as prosecutors alleged that confidential information was given about a tender for the stadium to a construction company, Alpine, that was then awarded the 280 million euros contract.
The prosecution said that Alpine paid 2.8 million euros for the information. Alpine said it paid 1.4 million and insisted that the payment was an 'arrangement fee'.
Wildmoser Sen. and another man have since been released. Wildmoser's son has stepped down as one of the stadium company's CEO's in the wake of the affair.
''It is a unfortunate that he (Wildmoser Jun.) is involved. But that doesn't affect the construction schedule. Construction will continue,'' said Beckenbauer.
Bureau Report
''Damage has been done. Of course we are asked about it at meetings with (the ruling body) Fifa (at their headquarters) in Zurich. Representatives from Africa and Asia are asking what's going on,'' said Beckenbauer.
''The affair has made headlines around the world.''
Beckenbauer was speaking at a so-called countdown event in Dortmund, one of 12 host cities for the June 9- July 9, 2006, tournament.
But Beckenbauer also said that construction at the Allianz-Arena, which is due to host the opening match of the World Cup and five further games of the tournament, is going ahead as planned.
The arena, which is a project run jointly by Munich's Bundesliga clubs Bayern and 1860 Munich, is due to be completed in 2005.
Last week, four men including the now resigned 1860 Munich president Karl-Heinz Wildmoser and his son were arrested as prosecutors alleged that confidential information was given about a tender for the stadium to a construction company, Alpine, that was then awarded the 280 million euros contract.
The prosecution said that Alpine paid 2.8 million euros for the information. Alpine said it paid 1.4 million and insisted that the payment was an 'arrangement fee'.
Wildmoser Sen. and another man have since been released. Wildmoser's son has stepped down as one of the stadium company's CEO's in the wake of the affair.
''It is a unfortunate that he (Wildmoser Jun.) is involved. But that doesn't affect the construction schedule. Construction will continue,'' said Beckenbauer.
Bureau Report