FIFA investigating Franz Beckenbauer and awarding of 2006 World Cup to Germany

FIFA has announced that their Ethic Committee has officially launched an investigation into the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup following the DFB's Freshfields report. The investigation will specifically target six former DFB officials involved in the bidding process:

• Wolfgang Niersbach: former DFB president, 2006 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee (LOC) vice president, current member of the FIFA and UEFA Executive Committees
• Helmut Sandrock: former DFB secretary general, LOC tournament director
• Franz Beckenbauer: former DFB vice president, LOC president, former member of the FIFA Executive Committee
• Theo Zwanziger: former DFB president, LOC vice president, former member of the FIFA and UEFA Executive Committee
• Horst Schmidt: former DFB secretary general, LOC vice president
• Stefan Hans: former DFB chief financial officer, LOC chief financial officer

Dr. Cornel Borbély, chairman of FIFA's investigatory chamber, will lead the investigation into the matter. After examining all available evidence, he will pass his recommendations on to the adjudicatory committee for punishment.

Niersbach and Sandrock are under investigation for "a possible failure to report a breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which could constitute a breach of art. 13 (General rules of conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty), art. 18 (Duty of disclosure, cooperating and reporting) and art. 19 (Conflicts of interest).

Beckenbauer, Zwanziger, Schmidt, and Hans are under investigation for "possible undue payments and contracts to gain an advantage in the 2006 FIFA World Cup host selection and the associated funding, which could constitute a breach of arts 13, 15, 18, and 19 as well as art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) and art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) of the FIFA Code of Ethics).

From a Bayern Munich perspective, the punishment handed out to Beckenbauer will be the thing to watch here. While the club legend hasn't had an official role in the day-to-day operations of the club for years, he is still used in an ambassadorial role by Bayern.

Depending on the findings and punishment handed out by FIFA to Der Kaiser, it may be time for Bayern to "suspend" their relationship with Beckenbauer until this mess has come to a conclusion.