September 6 – German legend Franz Beckenbauer is recovering in hospital after undergoing open heart bypass surgery – arranged before the FIFA ethics investigation surrounding the 2006 World Cup was announced.
The scheduled operation co-incided with a torrid few days for Beckenbauer, with Swiss authorities opening criminal proceedings against him. He was apparently still at his home in Salzburg, Austria when authorities carried out a two-hour search of his property.
For months Beckenbauer, 70, has been in and out of the news in terms of what he knew about an alleged secret slush fund connected to Germany’s World Cup bid. He had been president of the both the bid and organising committees.
Swiss authorities have placed Beckenbauer and three other high-profile colleagues under criminal investigation over allegations of “fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and embezzlement.” Beckenbauer has denied that votes were bought but has admitted he had made a mistake during the bidding process.
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