German football legend Franz Beckenbauer retreated from public life for eight years after the death of his son Stephan and the 2006 World Cup scandal that saw him investigated for fraud.
Beckenbauer has died at the age of 78 after battling with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, as well as undergoing heart operations. However, it was the passing of his son and World Cup scandal that saw his health begin to deteriorate.
Beckenbauer – who was arguably Germany’s biggest footballing hero having won the World Cup for his country as a player (1974) and a manager (1990) – found himself in hot water following his country’s bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
The former footballer denied allegations that a payment of 6.7million euros (£6.1m) to FIFA in 2005 was connected to a slush fund used to secure the 2006 World Cup, with the transfer being ‘falsely declared as being for a World Cup opening ceremony.’
Beckenbauer accepted responsibility for the German Football Association’s ‘mistake’ in making a payment to FIFA, but denied that the money was used to buy votes to secure the tournament.
Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest footballers ever, has passed away at the age of 78
The Germany icon is one of three men to have won the World Cup as both player and manager
‘I, as the president of the organisation committee at the time, carry the responsibility for this mistake,’ Beckenbauer said in a statement that was published by Bild newspaper.
‘In order to obtain financial support from FIFA, a suggestion by FIFA’s finance commission was followed which, in hindsight, should have been rejected. No votes were bought in order to win the right to stage the 2006 World Cup.’
German Football Association (DFB) president Wolfgang Niersbach, who was accused of knowing about the fund and the payments, also admitted he had made mistakes, saying it was ‘without a doubt an oversight on my part not to have informed my colleagues on the board early enough. I’ve got to take responsibility for that.’
Nevertheless, Beckenbauer, Niersbach, Theo Zwanziger and the former secretary general of the DFB, Horst Rudolf Schmidt, as well as Urs Linsi, former general secretary of FIFA were all investigated.
The BBC stated at the time of the investigation that Beckenbauer had been struggling with his health and it’s believed the situation had contributed his deterioration.
Beckenbauer’s health was also impacted by the tragic passing of his son, Stephan. Stephan died at the age of 46 from a brain tumour after being diagnosed two years prior.
Reports at the time said that the 46-year-old was unable to speak and barely conscious before passing away – leaving Beckenbauer emotionally shattered.
Stephan – who had a short Bundesliga career with FC Saarbruecken and also played for 1860 Munich as well as Bayern Munich’s amateur team – was the youngest child from Beckenbauer’s first marriage.
Beckenbauer denied allegations that a payment of 6.7million euros (£6.1m) to FIFA in 2005 was connected to a slush fund used to secure the 2006 World Cup
Beckenbauer said he regretted putting football ahead of his family – claiming he ‘was a bad father’ because he ‘was never there’ in a 2005 TV interview.
As his health worsened he disappeared from the public spotlight for eight years until his death on Sunday. German media spoke of how his judgement and memory had ‘significantly deteriorated’ in recent months.
In 2019, in Bunte magazine, it was revealed that Beckenbauer, nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’, had lost sight in one eye after competing in a golf tourament in his name – the Kaiser Cup.
‘I had a supposed ocular infection in one eye,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, I can’t see anything with my right eye anymore. And I need to be careful with my heart.’
Beckenbauer is unanimously viewed as one of football’s greatest ever players. He was part of the West Germany side that lost to England in the 1966 World Cup final.
Beckenbauer is in an exclusive club as he is one of only three men, including France manager Didier Deschamps and Brazilian icon Mario Zagallo, who passed away last week, to have won a World Cup as a player and manager.
More to follow…
