Latest: Corruption and Money Laundering.

In March, it was confirmed that a number of individuals, including Beckenbauer, were being investigated by FIFA amid allegations of corruption and bribery.

Beckenbauer, Niersbach face Swiss criminal proceedings

Germany legend Beckenbauer, former DFB president Niersbach, Horst Rudolf Schmidt and Theo Zwanziger are facing allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation.

Franz Beckenbauer and Wolfgang Niersbach are among four men who are facing criminal proceedings from the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) in relation to Germany's successful 2006 World Cup bid.

Germany legend Beckenbauer, former DFB president Niersbach, Horst Rudolf Schmidt and Theo Zwanziger – who were all members of the executive board of the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany – are facing allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation.

The investigation, which follows the launch of a FIFA probe in March, centres on the financing of a gala event, in which it is claimed the suspects knew the funds were not used for the event, but to pay a debt not owed by the DFB.

"The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has opened criminal proceedings in connection with the German Football Association [DFB]," the OAG statement read. "The suspects were members of the executive board of the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"The proceedings relate in particular to allegations of fraud (Art. 146 Swiss Criminal Code (SCC)), criminal mismanagement (Art.158 SCC), money laundering (Art. 305bis SCC) and misappropriation (Art. 138 SCC). "The suspects in the criminal proceedings are: Horst Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger, Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang Niersbach.

"The four persons named were members of the executive board of the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The presumption of innocence applies to all four. "The investigations focus on the joint financing of a gala event, initially at the cost €7million, later reduced to €6.7m.

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