Even a close confidante Franz Beckenbauers hardly contributes to clarification in the “summer fairy tale” process, which was used to pay the ominous 6.7 million euros. Fedor Radmann excludes bribery, he lacks plausible explanations as well as memories.
If one of her children wants to have 20 euros from her, she ask what. With this example, judge Eva-Marie Distler tries to make witness Fedor Radmann clear that she at least very doubted his statement.
Distler is the presiding judge at the district court in Frankfurt in the process in which only Theo twenties is left as a defendant. The former President of the German Football Association (DFB) has to answer for severe tax evasion, but that’s what the only thing that is about on the 21st day of negotiation.
Above all, the court and the public prosecutor want to know what the ten million Swiss francs were used for in 2002 by the then Adidas boss in 2002 Robert Louis-Dreyfus lent, and who finally landed in the Qatarian football official Mohamed bin Hammam. These ten million Swiss francs, including interest, later became the ominous 6.7 million euros, which put a shadow on the 2006 football World Cup in Germany, known as the “summer fairy tale”.
Radmann excludes bribery
Fedor Radmann, now 80 years old, well networked, a close confidante of the Beckenbauer, who died in January 2024, worked to bring the World Cup to Germany. When he was asked for help in 1998, the competitors South Africa and England were “far ahead” were the location “Extremely difficult”.
On July 6, 2000, however, Germany was awarded the contract with 12:11 votes in the last ballot against South Africa. “Somehow we did it”says Radmann in court. Somehow, for example by the fact that “We were never instructive”but simply nice and convincing – somehow. He excludes bribery: “According to my knowledge, no euro was paid by us.”
Radmann is one who deserves millions with string pulling. In the industry, he is also known as a “push”. Before he begins on Thursday (20.02.2025) with his statement, judge Distler says: “Sometimes you have the impression that it is very popular.” Radmann then remembers a lot. But not in many things either.
Ten million “security” for 250 million grants
The court and the indictment believe that at least with some questions he does not want to remember or do not say what he remembers. “I do not believe that”says Distler, for example, when Radmann claims that he did not question why the FIFA World Association had a “security” (the Beckenbauer once “Commission” named) of ten million Swiss francs, in order to then later pay many times as a grant for the organization of the World Cup. Ultimately, it was 250 million. Or, to stay in the analogy listed by judge Distler: Why should a child give his mother 75 cents and then receive 20 euros?
Radmann says that with the “security” he is already “funny” occurred, but only because FIFA the whole matter with the grant “Not internal” had clarified, but had to intervene the duo Beckenbauer/Radmann.
Radmann’s version: Beckenbauer disappeared into his office at the end of 2001 in Zurich with the then FIFA President Sepp Blatter and said that there was now a good look with the grant after the World Association did not want to give anything at first. Radmann should therefore speak to Bin Hammam, who is sitting in the FIFA financial commission, and whom he knows well.
Radmann does not contribute anything essential
Later, an employee of the Qatar called and said that a grant would be paid in an open amount if the “security” of ten million Swiss francs flows. “No, I didn’t think anyone would have to be lubricated”says Radmann, when the judge expresses a presumption that is obvious due to the scandalous history of FIFA.
Reinhard Grindel, DFB President from 2016 to 2019, had testified to the district court in Frankfurt that he had heard, I bought Hammam votes for Blatter with the money from Germany so that he was re-elected as President of the FIFA. The witness Radmann does not contribute anything to the clarification on Thursday, not even the witness Marcus Höfl, the long -time manager of Beckenbauer.
Now there is still ex-fifa boss Blatter
The 6.7 million euros are likely to remain ominous. The accused also believes that. Theo Zwanziger also believes how the truth would have come to light. “Why was an investigation against Mohamed bin Hammam initiated”Asks Zwanziger with a view to the Swiss authorities who have also determined all over the swamp. He gives the answer himself: “You didn’t want it.”
FIFA, according to Zwanziger, seats in Switzerland, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, also had German officials after the interrogations. Mohamed bin Hammam is accused of bringing the World Cup home with the help of bribes. The French judiciary issued an arrest warrant in June 2023.
In Frankfurt, the court hopes that even without the former string puller made of Qatar, lighting light into the dark. The list of witnesses also includes Sepp Blatter.