Germany and Bayern Munich great Franz Beckenbauer has conceded a payment to FIFA during the 2006 World Cup bidding process was a mistake.
Franz Beckenbauer has described a payment sent to FIFA while he was head of Germany's 2006 World Cup organizing committee as a mistake, but rejected claims it was made to buy votes.
Beckenbauer – who won the World Cup as a player and coach with West Germany – had an investigation launched against him by FIFA's Ethics Committee last week.
The 70-year-old admitted a payment had been made by the organizing committee during the bidding process for the 2006 competition, but insisted it was in return for a financial grant.