BERN, Switzerland (AP) The verdict from FIFA on Germany's bid to host the 2006 World Cup was emphatic and gushing with praise. Germany, FIFA's bid inspectors concluded, ''demonstrated a true spirit of fair play.'' By contrast, rival bidder England's ''behavior was not always in compliance with the FIFA recommendations.''
Fifteen years after American official Alan Rothenberg delivered his report, FIFA has promised a fresh investigation by lawyers into ''very serious allegations'' that Germany secured hosting rights to the soccer showpiece by bribing voters.
The central claim made by German news magazine Der Spiegel is that a slush fund of 10.