Beckenbauer: Payment to FIFA was a mistake

Franz Beckenbauer said last Monday it was his mistake to make a payment to FIFA in return for a financial grant to Germany's 2006 World Cup organising committee.

In a brief statement published by German media late Monday, Beckenbauer gave little details about the case that has shaken German football.

Beckenbauer, president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee, reiterated his denial from last week that there was vote buying before Germany won the bid to stage the World Cup.

"In order to obtain a financial grant from FIFA, a proposal was accepted from FIFA's financial commission that in hindsight should have been rejected by those involved," Beckenbauer said.

"For this mistake, I bear responsibility as the president of the thensorganizing committee," he said.

Beckenbauer made no mention of FIFA's now suspended president Sepp Blatter. German football federation president, Wolfgang Niersbach, said last week that the financial deal was made by Beckenbauer and Blatter in a private meeting in January 2002.