United News of Bangladesh

German police on Wednesday carried out raids as part of an investigation into suspected corruption linked to the 2024 UEFA European Championship. According to German media, the headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB) was among the locations searched. Investigators are also examining Euro 2024 GmbH, the tournament's organizing company jointly run by the DFB and UEFA. In a joint statement, the Bochum Public Prosecutor's Office and the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office of Criminal Investigation said the probe focuses on allegations that officials from the tournament's organizing body gave improper benefits to a person who was working for one of the host cities at the time. The alleged benefits included tickets to football matches and other favors. Investigators said organizers appeared to have offered host cities priority rights to purchase match tickets. The cities reportedly used some of those tickets in different ways. German newspaper Bild reported that more than 150 police officers took part in the raids. The investigation involves suspected bribery by a 66-year-old German man and a 46-year-old French man. The report also claimed that several thousand tickets may have been improperly distributed to selected guests during Euro 2024. Police also searched city halls and municipal offices in several host cities as part of the investigation, according to the newspaper. Prosecutors stressed that the suspects have not yet responded to the allegations and remain presumed innocent while the investigation continues.