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Zurich, April 29 (IANS) Germany and Bayern Munich great Franz Beckenbauer's corruption trial related to the 2006 FIFA World Cup has ended without a verdict after the proceedings were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Criminal proceedings concerning fraud allegations have to be initiated within 15 years in Switzerland. Courts thus don't have jurisdiction over Beckenbauer's case as it dates back to 2005.
Beckenbauer, a World Cup winning former German midfielder widely regarded among the greatest players of all time, headed the 2006 World Cup organising committee and was accused of paying then-FIFA executive Mohamed bin Hammam 8.4 million pounds a year before the tournament. The FIFA Ethics Committee had said in 2016 that it was opening proceedings on the matter.
"FIFA is deeply disappointed that the trial related to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 will not take place because it has now become time barred," world football's governing body said in a statement.
"The fact that the case has now ended without a result of any kind is very worrying, not only for football but also for the administration of justice in Switzerland."
"For FIFA this case is certainly not over as we cannot and will not accept that a CHF 10 million payment is made from FIFA accounts without a proper reason."
--IANS
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