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Skip next section Raids over suspected perks linked to football host cities 07/01/2026 July 1, 2026 Raids over suspected perks linked to football host cities
Skip next section Raids over suspected perks linked to football host cities 07/01/2026 July 1, 2026 Raids over suspected perks linked to football host cities German authorities have carried out nationwide raids over suspected improper perks linked to Euro 2024, police have said in a statement. More than 150 officers from the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Criminal Police Office searched the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) as well as city halls in multiple host cities.
Investigators are probing whether officials received unauthorized benefits, including match tickets, travel and hotel stays, potentially amounting to bribery. The case focuses on two suspects, a 66-year-old German and a 46-year-old French national, linked to the tournament’s organizing body, Euro 2024 GmbH. Authorities are examining whether host city officials were offered exclusive access to tickets, including for high-profile matches such as the Spain-France semi-final in Munich.
Searches were carried out in cities including Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, as well as at several companies. Interior Minister Herbert
Reul said: "A football ticket is not part of a salary. Anyone in public service who holds out their hand can expect a visit from us."
The BriefWire