German authorities initiated a significant operation on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, conducting raids at the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) in Frankfurt, alongside city halls and municipal administrations in several UEFA Euro 2024Competition·UEFA Euro 2024 host cities. The coordinated action, involving over 150 officers from the North Rhine-Westphalia Criminal Police Office, targeted locations in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Munich.
The investigation, led by the Bochum Public Prosecutor's Office and the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office of Criminal Investigation, centers on allegations of unauthorized favors and preferential ticket allocations linked to the Euro 2024 tournament. Prosecutors suspect that "several thousand tickets may have been illegally allocated internally to preferred guests" by Euro 2024 GmbH, the joint venture responsible for organizing the championship, formed by the DFB and UEFACompetition·UEFA.
Officials from the organizing entity are alleged to have offered host cities exclusive rights of first refusal for tickets, which some cities reportedly exercised and distributed through various means. The probe currently focuses on two individuals: a 66-year-old German national and a 46-year-old French national. One of the suspects, reportedly working for a host city at the time, is accused of receiving unauthorized benefits, including tickets, travel, and hotel accommodations, valued at approximately 2,400 euros.
Interior Minister Herbert Reul issued a firm statement regarding the investigation.
"Anyone in public service who holds out their hand can expect a visit from us."
The DFB confirmed that its headquarters were searched but clarified that the investigation concerns neither the DFB as an organization nor any individual employees or officials. Authorities have emphasized that the accused individuals have not yet had the opportunity to respond to the allegations, and the presumption of innocence applies.
This development arrives shortly after the German national team's unexpected exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026Competition·FIFA World Cup 2026, where they were eliminated on penalties by Paraguay. The German Football Federation has faced similar governance inquiries in the past, notably an affair surrounding the 2006 World Cup, underscoring a recurring challenge for the organization.
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