Franz Beckenbauer’s eldest son, Thomas, criticized him for the 2006 World Cup after his father’s death – and it is clear.
Germany’s football legend Franz Beckenbauer died at the beginning of the year at the age of 78. Last Friday a large memorial service was held in his honor at the Allianz Arena. There the Beckenbauer family, including his wife Heidi, his son Joel and his daughter Francesca, appeared emotional (you can read more about their appearance here). Now Beckenbauer’s eldest son has spoken out.
Thomas Beckenbauer spoke to the “Bunte” about his father and critical voices against him in relation to the 2006 World Cup. The summer fairy tale, as it is called today, took place in Germany at the time. At the time, Beckenbauer was vice president of the DFB (1998 to 2010). There were allegations of corruption against him in connection with the awarding of the World Cup and possible vote buying.
“You could see his dejection”
Thomas Beckenbauer now said: “The media campaign was, to say the least, more than disproportionate and unfair.” Franz Beckenbauer’s son further explained: “You didn’t have to talk to him explicitly about it, you could see how depressed he was about this topic.”
For 61-year-old Thomas Beckenbauer, who was born during Beckenbauer’s relationship with his childhood sweetheart Ingrid Grönke, the “Kaiser” was picked on too much. “Because he was put in a light that he didn’t deserve and that was wrong,” continued Thomas Beckenbauer: “The vehemence – I think – surprised him. Because he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Uli Hoeneß said of Beckenbauer at the memorial ceremony in the Allianz Arena: “He achieved his masterpiece with the 2006 World Cup. For years he worked his ass off to get the votes for Germany. To do this, he traveled to the farthest corner of the earth.”