Things aren't rosy when it comes to the German national. Not only have they exited the World Cup earlier than expected and now they have had their HQ raided by police due to acts done in 2024.
In somewhat related news, an Italian player is being investigated for a heinous crime.
Police in Germany have raided the national football federation headquarters and other sites across the country as part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving “unauthorised favours” linked to the 2024 European Championship. The case focuses on accusations that employees of cities in Germany, which hosted the tournament, were improperly invited to matches or given preferential treatment in acquiring tickets.
In a joint statement, prosecutors in Bochum and police in North Rhine-Westphalia state said: "The investigations concern alleged unauthorised favours including attendance to a football game among others that an accused individual, who was working for a host city at the time, is said to have received from officials of the organising entity."
"In addition, the host cities are said to have been offered exclusive pre-purchase rights for tickets by those responsible at the organising entity."
The statement didn't mention the DFB football federation by name but it later confirmed its Frankfurt headquarters had been searched. "The investigation concerns neither the DFB as an organisation nor any individual employees or officials," it said. "Rather, the DFB is involved in these proceedings solely as a witness and has pledged full cooperation with the authorities."
Euro 2024 took place in June and July 2024 with Spain winning the competition. The event was organised by Euro 2024 GmbH, a joint venture between the DFB and UEFA.
Officials didn't say which other locations were targeted but Bild newspaper reported that several city administrations, including in Berlin; Hamburg; Cologne; Stuttgart and Munich; were searched as well as companies.
Bild said the morning raids involving more than 150 officers stemmed from inquiries into suspected bribery against a 66-year-old German national and a 46-year-old French national and "several thousand tickets may have been illegally allocated internally to preferred guests" at Euro 2024.
The German national, at the time an employee of the city administration in Gelsenkirchen, one of the host cities, was suspected to have received tickets, travel and hotel benefits worth €2 400 (£2 000), Bild said.
"A football ticket is not part of one’s salary. Anyone in the public sector who has their hand out will get a visit from us," Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, told Bild. "Major events like the European football championship, in particular, rely on public trust – trust in the sport and in the authorities that make it possible. We will not allow that trust to be damaged by a few invitations and tickets."
German football is licking its wounds this week after the four-time champions crashed out of the World Cup in a humiliating defeat against Paraguay.
Following Germany's disappointing World Cup exit to Paraguay on Monday, a press conference with head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, was scheduled for Tuesday.
However, according to Sport1, the German Football Association has decided to cancel the press conference. Instead, the Germany squad will fly home on Tuesday before heading off on their holidays.
The report claims that Nagelsmann and the DFB plan to address the situation through other channels; although it's unclear exactly how they intend to do so. The cancellation has only fuelled further speculation over Nagelsmann's future.
Following the defeat to Paraguay, the 38-year-old said he would like to remain in charge unless the DFB decides a change is necessary. His contract expires in 2028.
Germany's shock World Cup round-of-32 exit will trigger changes, the country's football association said on Tuesday, a day after the four-time world champions crashed out early for the third straight time.
The Germans, who were eliminated in the group stages in both the 2018 and the 2022 World Cups, were beaten 4-3 on penalties by rank outsiders Paraguay, and have now failed to win a knockout match in the tournament since they last won the title in Brazil in 2014.
"In the coming days, we will calmly examine the reasons why the team was unable to realise its potential and failed to meet both its own expectations and those of the German football community," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement.
"After such a crushing blow, we cannot and will not simply return to business as usual as we look toward the tasks ahead."
Neuendorf has been in charge since 2022 and has now seen the national team crash out of two World Cups early, while also failing to progress past the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 held in Germany.
Fans and TV pundits in Germany have questioned whether Nagelsmann, who on Monday became the youngest coach -- aged 38 -- in a World Cup knockout match for 40 years, should be given another chance.
"Following the bitter defeat against Paraguay and our elimination from the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, I met at length yesterday with national team coach Julian Nagelsmann and the sporting leadership team, including... (national team director) Rudi Voeller. We agree that our performance at the World Cup fell short of our standards," Neuendorf said.
"We would like to thank all the fans who supported us so magnificently — both in the USA and Canada and back home. We are all deeply disappointed that our shared journey has come to an end so early."It's
It's been reported that former Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, is open to becoming the national coach should Nagelsmann be sacked.
Inter and Italy defender, Alessandro Bastoni, is under investigation over alleged underage prostitution as part of an inquiry into an events company that organised "all-inclusive" nights for VIP clients at clubs, Italian prosecutors said on Tuesday.
According to investigators, Bastoni allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old girl who had been recruited by a company organising luxury events and dinners for VIPs in Milan. Prosecutors allege the owners of the agency, who are also under investigation, made private apartments available to clients; where they could have sex with underage girls.
In wiretaps dating back to 2020 and published by Italian media, Bastoni had clearly "expressed his intention to have sexual intercourse immediately after dinner at the apartment in Cinisello Balsamo," the case file reportedly reads.
In one intercepted conversation, one of the agency’s PR representatives reportedly wrote to Bastoni: "I think the underage girl wants to sleep with you. I think she wants to have some fun." Bastoni allegedly replied: "Are there any places where we can hide there?" The PR representative allegedly responded: "We’ll figure something out. At worst, you can take her home."
According to prosecutors, the agency induced the girl into prostitution on the evening of 11 July 2020. The girl, who was questioned in recent days as a witness, said she had been to the footballer’s home but denied having had sexual intercourse with him.
Bastoni’s lawyer, Salvatore Scuto, said: "I can rule out that my client ever paid for sex, let alone had sexual relations with minors."
Under Italian law, sexual acts with minors aged between 14 and 18 in exchange for money or any other benefit, even if only promised, are punishable by between one and six years in prison.
Bastoni has faced intense criticism from Italy supporters following the national team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup finals tournament after his early red card in the defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in April; which ended Italy’s qualification hopes.
Two months earlier, Bastoni had also found himself at the centre of controversy during Inter’s game against Juventus after he was widely accused of diving; leading to the wrongful dismissal of the Juventus defender, Pierre Kalulu.
Bastoni had already been booked and could've been handed a second yellow card; either for simulation or for attempting to influence the referee’s decision. Instead, he celebrated as Kalulu was sent off. The Juve player appealed in vain for a VAR review but second yellow cards cannot be reviewed under the current regulations.
Inter went on to win the match 3-2. Bastoni later apologised in a press conference for having simulated the foul.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter were in immediate contact with Bastoni upon learning the news earlier this week and have expressed their support for the centre-back, who won't be left to tackle this case on his own.
Inter aren't actively seeking a sale of Bastoni as a result of the investigation but as is the case for several Nerazzurri players; if an enticing offer were to come in this summer, the club and player would sit down to discuss it.
There had been rumours of interest from Barcelona earlier this summer, but that path appears to have faded away. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that sources in Spain are whispering about interest from Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid but there has been no formal contact between the Spanish and Italian sides as things stand.
Alessandro Bastoni has become the first footballer formally placed under investigation in the Milan probe into an alleged escort network linked to the Ma.De. events agency in Cinisello Balsamo, receiving an avviso di garanzia and a summons to appear before prosecutors.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan prosecutors, Bruna Albertini and Rosaria Stagnaro, are expected to question the Inter and Italy defender on Friday. The notice concerns an alleged encounter with a girl who was 17 at the time, with investigators reportedly reconstructing the meeting through chat records tied to June 2020.
Salvatore Scuto said his client was "deeply shaken" and flatly denied ever paying for sex, "let alone with minors." Crucially, the girl herself – questioned as a witness – reportedly denied any sexual relationship with Bastoni, a factual dispute prosecutors must still reconcile before any charges can follow.
The distinction between being formally investigated and merely named in seized material matters here. Dozens of current and former Serie A players had previously been mentioned across intercepted communications, but none had received a formal notice until now.
Cristian Chivu publicly confirmed as recently as this month that Bastoni remains part of Inter’s plans; a stance the club has not yet publicly revisited in light of Thursday’s reports.
Daniel Maldini, Riccardo Calafiori and Kevin Bonifazi were each asked to provide information as witnesses only – not as suspects. An avviso di garanzia is a procedural notification that an investigation is under way, not a charge or a finding of guilt. Bastoni’s questioning on Friday will be the first significant test of the evidentiary basis prosecutors hold.
All crimes are bound to be found out; no matter how covert it is. People should think twice before partaking in the events.
Anyone can get into trouble; no matter how famous you are.