Franz Beckenbauer investigated for corruption over 2006 World Cup

Mr Beckenbauer has denied corruption

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into German football legend Franz Beckenbauer and three others over Germany's bid for the 2006 World Cup.

As members of that cup's organising committee, they are suspected of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation. Some of the alleged crimes were carried out on Swiss territory.

Wolfgang Niersbach sits on the FIFA executive committee

Horst Rudolf Schmidt (L) and Theo Zwanziger (R) with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2006

Mr Beckenbauer, who headed the bid, has previously denied corruption. Last October, he said he had made a "mistake" in the bidding process to host the competition in 2000 but denied votes had been bought.

In March, football's world governing body Fifa began looking into six men for their part in Germany winning the rights to host the 2006 cup.