German FA offices raided by police in Euro 2024 ticket corruption probe

Investigators raided the offices of the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday as part of a nationwide corruption probe linked to Euro 2024, which Germany hosted across 10 cities last summer.

According to German newspaper Bild, the searches were prompted by investigations into a German national, a French national, and others. Prosecutors in Bochum and the criminal office of North Rhine-Westphalia issued a joint statement confirming searches were taking place at several locations around Germany, though the DFB’s offices were not explicitly named in that release.

The case centres on hotel invitations and several thousand tickets alleged to have been illegally allocated to preferred guests ahead of the tournament. A German national, identified as a municipal employee from the host city of Gelsenkirchen at the time, is suspected of receiving tickets, travel, and hotel benefits worth approximately $2,736.

“A football ticket is not part of one’s salary. Anyone in the public sector who has their hand out will get a visit from us,” Herbert Reul, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, told Bild. “Major events like the European Football Championship, in particular, rely on public trust — trust in the sport and in the authorities that make it possible. We will not allow that trust to be damaged by a few invitations and tickets.”

Prosecutors and police also stated the investigation concerned “unauthorised advantages, including a visit to an international football match.” Prosecutors in Bochum declined to comment further, and UEFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The DFB was also not immediately available for comment.

The raid arrives during a turbulent week for German football. The national team suffered a shock World Cup exit to Paraguay — their first-ever penalty-shootout defeat — raising questions over the future of head coach Julian Nagelsmann. Chancellor Friedrich Merz also drew backlash after praising the team on social media following the defeat. Nagelsmann’s first tournament in charge had been Euro 2024 itself, where Germany were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.