The public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt is investigating another case against the German Football Association. The authority launched preliminary proceedings against three former members of the DFB presidium in November, as a spokeswoman confirmed.
It is about social security contributions for the officials. The "Süddeutsche Zeitung" reported about it first.
According to the association, the background is a clarification procedure between the DFB and the German pension insurance before the social court in Frankfurt, which was agreed by both sides. According to the public prosecutor's office, proceedings have been opened on "suspicion of withholding wages" in order to prevent the statute of limitations.
Currently no claim against the DFB
The DFB emphasizes that there are currently no claims against the DFB. The public prosecutor's office relies on the fact that the German pension insurance found that two members of the executive committee were "in a dependent employment relationship" with the association.
The DFB informed the German Press Agency that it had submitted an application for social security exemption to the pension insurance. This had been rejected, which is why a "status determination procedure" had been initiated. Only after completion - if at all - can there be additional claims.
As in other cases, the association would then be threatened with an additional payment. The financial regulations of the association were adjusted when the new President Bernd Neuendorf was elected in March 2022. Since then, members of the Presidency no longer officially work in "honorary office" but in "elective office" and continue to receive flat-rate expense allowances. Some top officials also work full-time elsewhere.
Most recently, the tax office in Frankfurt am Main revoked the non-profit status of the DFB for the years 2014 and 2015 - the largest individual sports association in the world is already threatened with back taxes in the double-digit million range, for which the association has already made provisions.
Report of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (payment barrier)
