Latest news with #Distler
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
2006 World Cup: DFB convicted of tax evasion after 16-month trial
The headquarters of the German football federation (Image by) The German soccer federation has been convicted of tax evasion related to its successful 2006 World Cup bid. It brought an end of sorts on Wednesday to a 10-year process prompted by allegations that Germany used a slush fund to buy votes from FIFA executive committee members to be certain of hosting the tournament. A regional court in Frankfurt fined the federation, known by its German acronym DFB, 110,000 euros ($128,000) at the culmination of a nearly 16-month trial at the end of the investigation process. Prosecutors had been pushing for a larger fine after accusing the DFB of failing to pay approximately 2.7 million euros (now $3.1 million) in taxes related to its payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.8 million) to FIFA, world soccer's governing body, in April 2005. ' That payment settled a loan that Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the World Cup organizing committee, had accepted three years earlier from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, a former Adidas executive and then part-owner of the Infront marketing agency. The money was channeled through a Swiss law firm to a Qatari company belonging to Mohammed Bin Hammam, then a member of FIFA's Executive Committee. The exact purpose of the money was never determined. Theo Zwanziger, who was DFB president at the time, told Spiegel magazine in 2015, "there was definitely a slush fund in the German World Cup bid." He accused his successor, Wolfgang Niersbach, of lying about it. Both were on the World Cup organizing committee. LIVE from Leeds: Why India LOST, what coach Gambhir said, Shubman Gill captaincy and more The DFB concealed the repayment of the loan as a contribution toward a planned World Cup opening gala, which was later canceled, and falsely declared it a business expense a year later. Zwanziger, Niersbach, and DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt were originally charged in the trial. The proceedings against all three, who consistently denied the allegations of tax evasion, were eventually dropped upon payment of fines. "The court is certain without a doubt that the DFB evaded taxes and that those involved put up with it," presiding judge Eva-Marie Distler said Wednesday in comments reported by news agency dpa. The DFB was initially fined 130,000 euros ($151,000), but 20,000 euros was waived because of the "procedural delays" in the case. Distler was scathing in her criticism of the DFB, saying it presented a "catastrophic image" in its investigation of the affair and must bear the costs for the proceedings. Poll Do you believe the German soccer federation (DFB) should face harsher penalties for tax evasion? Yes, definitely No, the fine is sufficient "The clock ticks differently at the DFB. It generates astronomical legal fees. The responsible people externalize responsibility. No one has to face personal consequences," Distler said. "No DFB representative participated in either the investigation or the trial. You have to ask, are they not taking the justice system seriously?" The DFB has one week to appeal the ruling. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Al-Ahram Weekly
10 hours ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany soccer federation fined for tax evasion related to suspicious 2006 World Cup payment - World
The German soccer federation has been convicted of tax evasion related to its successful 2006 World Cup bid. It brought an end of sorts on Wednesday to a 10-year process prompted by allegations that Germany used a slush fund to buy votes from FIFA executive committee members to be certain of hosting the tournament. A regional court in Frankfurt fined the federation, known by its German acronym DFB, 110,000 euros ($128,000) at the culmination of a nearly 16-month trial at the end of the investigation process. Prosecutors had been pushing for a larger fine after accusing the DFB of failing to pay approximately 2.7 million euros (now $3.1 million) in taxes related to its payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.8 million) to FIFA, world soccer's governing body, in April 2005. That payment settled a loan that Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the World Cup organizing committee, had accepted three years earlier from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, a former Adidas executive and then part-owner of the Infront marketing agency. The money was channeled through a Swiss law firm to a Qatari company belonging to Mohammed Bin Hammam, then a member of FIFA's Executive Committee. The exact purpose of the money was never determined. Theo Zwanziger, who was DFB president at the time, told Spiegel magazine in 2015, 'there was definitely a slush fund in the German World Cup bid.' He accused his successor, Wolfgang Niersbach, of lying about it. Both were on the World Cup organizing committee. The DFB concealed the repayment of the loan as a contribution toward a planned World Cup opening gala, which was later canceled, and falsely declared it a business expense a year later. Zwanziger, Niersbach, and DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt were originally charged in the trial. The proceedings against all three, who consistently denied the allegations of tax evasion, were eventually dropped upon payment of fines. 'The court is certain without a doubt that the DFB evaded taxes and that those involved put up with it,' presiding judge Eva-Marie Distler said Wednesday in comments reported by news agency dpa. The DFB was initially fined 130,000 euros ($151,000), but 20,000 euros was waived because of the 'procedural delays' in the case. Distler was scathing in her criticism of the DFB, saying it presented a 'catastrophic image' in its investigation of the affair and must bear the costs for the proceedings. 'The clock ticks differently at the DFB. It generates astronomical legal fees. The responsible people externalize responsibility. No one has to face personal consequences,' Distler said. 'No DFB representative participated in either the investigation or the trial. You have to ask, are they not taking the justice system seriously?' The DFB has one week to appeal the ruling. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Hamilton Spectator
10 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Germany soccer federation fined for tax evasion related to suspicious 2006 World Cup payment to FIFA
BERLIN (AP) — The German soccer federation has been convicted of tax evasion related to its successful 2006 World Cup bid. It brought an end of sorts on Wednesday to a 10-year process prompted by allegations that Germany used a slush fund to buy votes from FIFA executive committee members to be certain of hosting the tournament. A regional court in Frankfurt fined the federation, known by its German acronym DFB, 110,000 euros ($128,000) at the culmination of a nearly 16-month trial at the end of the investigation process. Prosecutors had been pushing for a larger fine after accusing the DFB of failing to pay approximately 2.7 million euros (now $3.1 million) in taxes related to its payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.8 million) to FIFA, world soccer's governing body, in April 2005. That payment settled a loan that Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the World Cup organizing committee, had accepted three years earlier from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, a former Adidas executive and then part-owner of the Infront marketing agency. The money was channeled through a Swiss law firm to a Qatari company belonging to Mohammed Bin Hammam, then a member of FIFA's Executive Committee. The exact purpose of the money was never determined. Theo Zwanziger, who was DFB president at the time, told Spiegel magazine in 2015, 'there was definitely a slush fund in the German World Cup bid.' He accused his successor, Wolfgang Niersbach, of lying about it. Both were on the World Cup organizing committee. The DFB concealed the repayment of the loan as a contribution toward a planned World Cup opening gala, which was later canceled, and falsely declared it a business expense a year later. Zwanziger, Niersbach, and DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt were originally charged in the trial. The proceedings against all three, who consistently denied the allegations of tax evasion, were eventually dropped upon payment of fines. 'The court is certain without a doubt that the DFB evaded taxes and that those involved put up with it,' presiding judge Eva-Marie Distler said Wednesday in comments reported by news agency dpa. The DFB was initially fined 130,000 euros ($151,000), but 20,000 euros was waived because of the 'procedural delays' in the case. Distler was scathing in her criticism of the DFB, saying it presented a 'catastrophic image' in its investigation of the affair and must bear the costs for the proceedings. 'The clock ticks differently at the DFB. It generates astronomical legal fees. The responsible people externalize responsibility. No one has to face personal consequences,' Distler said. 'No DFB representative participated in either the investigation or the trial. You have to ask, are they not taking the justice system seriously?' The DFB has one week to appeal the ruling. ___ AP soccer:
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Germany soccer federation fined for tax evasion related to suspicious 2006 World Cup payment to FIFA
BERLIN — The German soccer federation has been convicted of tax evasion related to its successful 2006 World Cup bid. HT Image It brought an end of sorts on Wednesday to a 10-year process prompted by allegations that Germany used a slush fund to buy votes from FIFA executive committee members to be certain of hosting the tournament. A regional court in Frankfurt fined the federation, known by its German acronym DFB, 110,000 euros at the culmination of a nearly 16-month trial at the end of the investigation process. Prosecutors had been pushing for a larger fine after accusing the DFB of failing to pay approximately 2.7 million euros in taxes related to its payment of 6.7 million euros to FIFA, world soccer's governing body, in April 2005. That payment settled a loan that Germany great Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the World Cup organizing committee, had accepted three years earlier from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, a former Adidas executive and then part-owner of the Infront marketing agency. The money was channeled through a Swiss law firm to a Qatari company belonging to Mohammed Bin Hammam, then a member of FIFA's Executive Committee. The exact purpose of the money was never determined. Theo Zwanziger, who was DFB president at the time, told Spiegel magazine in 2015, 'there was definitely a slush fund in the German World Cup bid.' He accused his successor, Wolfgang Niersbach, of lying about it. Both were on the World Cup organizing committee. The DFB concealed the repayment of the loan as a contribution toward a planned World Cup opening gala, which was later canceled, and falsely declared it a business expense a year later. Zwanziger, Niersbach, and DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt were originally charged in the trial. The proceedings against all three, who consistently denied the allegations of tax evasion, were eventually dropped upon payment of fines. 'The court is certain without a doubt that the DFB evaded taxes and that those involved put up with it,' presiding judge Eva-Marie Distler said Wednesday in comments reported by news agency dpa. The DFB was initially fined 130,000 euros , but 20,000 euros was waived because of the 'procedural delays' in the case. Distler was scathing in her criticism of the DFB, saying it presented a 'catastrophic image' in its investigation of the affair and must bear the costs for the proceedings. 'The clock ticks differently at the DFB. It generates astronomical legal fees. The responsible people externalize responsibility. No one has to face personal consequences,' Distler said. 'No DFB representative participated in either the investigation or the trial. You have to ask, are they not taking the justice system seriously?" The DFB has one week to appeal the ruling. soccer: /hub/soccer This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AEG's Erik Distler Leads Sustainability Conversations During Earth Month
As a leader in sports and live entertainment, AEG has been on a mission since 2008 to minimize its environmental impact across its music, sports, ticketing, and real estate portfolios, embedding sustainability into the core of its business operations. Since then, the company has been recognized as an industry trailblazer in the introduction and implementation of sustainable practices focused on reducing its carbon footprint, waste consumption and water usage. With a mission of inspiring others to affect change, this Earth Month, Erik Distler, AEG's Vice President of Sustainability, convened and participated in numerous panel sessions aimed at facilitating insightful and productive conversations about the state of sustainability in sports and live entertainment. On April 23, 2025, he hosted and moderated the fourth annual AEG Sustainability Insights Panel. The session brought together influential leaders who are shaping the future through action-driven sustainability efforts -- experts in sustainability, climate change, and policy -- and drove attention to the pressing issues facing the sports and live entertainment industry as it works to build scalable sustainability practices. Panelists shared their insights on how sports and live entertainment can continue to lead in sustainability while inspiring others to act. Members of the panel included: To promote best practices and the enormous potential of creative industries to act as a catalyst for change, on April 8, Distler spoke at Climate Week Los Angeles, where organizations, policy makers, companies and innovators from across Los Angles convened to discuss climate change solutions. Distler participated in a panel, Creative Forces for Change: Workforce Development in the Green Transition, which explored the critical role of workforce development in driving sustainability within the $7 trillion global green economy—particularly across the arts and culture sector -- and how the city's creative industries are helping to shape a more sustainable future for all. Additionally, on April 15, Distler participated in the Music Sustainability Alliance's 2025 Summit, which looked to empower the music business and artists to leverage their platform to tackle the climate crisis. Distler joined the panel session, Waste Not, Play On: Tackling the Trash Problem, to discuss the live music industry's reliance on single-use materials and the urgent need to reduce waste. The panel session explored the scale of the problem, debunked common myths, and offered practical solutions to help create a more sustainable future for live events. To learn more about AEG's sustainability activities, click here. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from AEG
