Showing posts with label Angela Merkel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angela Merkel. Show all posts

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Franz Beckenbauer Fined by FIFA


Germany's World Cup-winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer has been warned and fined by Fifa's ethics committee.

Beckenbauer had been provisionally banned for "failing to co-operate" with Fifa's inquiry into the bidding processes for 2018 and 2022 World Cups, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.

The 70-year-old was one of 22 men who voted to decide the tournament hosts.

Fifa says he did not co-operate during an in-person interview and in response to written questions.

Beckenbauer, who Fifa said subsequently demonstrated a willingness to co-operate, was fined 7,000 Swiss Francs (£4,900).

Fifa did not look into matters relating to the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.

Beckenbauer was head of the tournament's organising committee which, reports alleged, made a payment to Fifa in return for a financial grant.

In October, he said he made a "mistake" in the bidding process but denied votes were bought.

Der Spiegel magazine reported an alleged slush fund of 6.7m euros was used to buy votes for Germany - an allegation denied by the German Football Association (DFB).

Beckenbauer captained West Germany to victory as hosts at the 1974 World Cup, and was coach when they next lifted the trophy in Italy 16 years later.

He then managed Marseille and Bayern Munich, where he is now honorary president.


Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Germany Netherlands Game Cancelled


Germany's friendly against Netherlands has been cancelled after "concrete plans for an explosion inside the stadium" were discovered by police.

The HDI Arena in Hannover, which had been under increased security by armed police on Tuesday, was evacuated before kick-off after a suspicious package was found inside the ground.

All supporters and staff left the stadium without incident, but Police told Sky Germany that there were "concrete plans for an explosion in the stadium this evening".

An increased number of armed German federal police have also guarded the main train station and airport of Hannover in order to increase safety in the wake of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris.

The German chancellor Angela Merkel and members of the German cabinet were expected to be among the guests at the match.

There were no signs of panic nor distress among supporters as they were urged by stadium announcers, staff and and police to leave the ground and its immediate vicinity in a calm manner.

No reason was immediately given for the cancellation, but German news agency Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) reported that there had been a threat of an impending attack that had to be taken seriously.

DPA also reported a bomb threat about an hour earlier outside the stadium and that streets leading to it had been sealed off before the all-clear was given.

Germany were playing France in the Stade de France in Paris on Friday when two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the stadium.

The HDI Arena in Hannover is home to Bundesliga club Hannover 96 and is also known as Niedersachsenstadion.