German Roundup

Bundesliga denies tax scandal report

BERLIN (Reuters) -- The German Football League (DFL) dismissed Friday a newspaper report saying not only Kaiserslautern but the entire Bundesliga was threatened by a major tax scandal.

"We will not let the whole Bundesliga be accused without any firm evidence," DFL executive Michael Pfad said.

Top-selling daily Bild published Friday what it presented as extracts of a secret file from tax authorities mentioning several cases of tax evasion by German first division soccer clubs.

The report came after the news Wednesday that crisis-hit Kaiserslautern faced a investigation over alleged tax evasion by the club's former management.

DFL chief executive Wilfried Straub said Friday that the body ruling the professional game in Germany had been exchanging information with tax administrators over the past few months.

"Like in the past we are determined to clear up any possible irregularities," he said.

But the DFL said a report in Bild that the tax administration in the German city of Muenster had launched an investigation targeting the entire Bundesliga was incorrect.

The DFL said in a statement it had been informed by the Muenster tax office that it had no such thing as a Bundesliga file.

Financial collapse

The debate over possible tax irregularities in the Bundesliga was stirred up by the news that Kaiserslautern are threatened with financial collapse because they are likely to have to pay back millions of euros worth of tax.

An official investigation into the four-times German champions' tax situation was launched after the first findings of a probe into alleged financial irregularities by the club's former management over the past five years was forwarded to the tax administration.

The club declined to comment on a report in Bild this week saying they would have to pay an estimated 20 million euros (US$19.98 million) in back taxes, meaning they would probably go bust.

But Kaiserslautern said last week when they announced having ordered the probe that additional tax claims could not be excluded.

The DFL said it had also been informed of the probe's initial findings and would study them before deciding what action to take.

Only with a licence from the DFL can clubs be allowed to play in the top two divisions and a licence is awarded only to clubs who can guarantee that their financial situation is healthy.

If the irregularities were confirmed, Kaiserslautern would face a great risk of having their licence withdrawn, which could force them to play in the amateur ranks in the regional league -- the equivalent of the third division.

Kaiserslautern started running out of money after millions failed to materialise following the collapse of KirchMedia, which holds the television rights for the Bundesliga.

The decline in television revenue has hit all the clubs from the top two divisions, leaving several facing severe financial difficulties.

Bayern's Peruvian striker Pizarro undergoes surgery

MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Bayern Munich's Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro will undergo meniscus surgery on his right knee and will miss the final two Bundesliga matches before the winter break, the club said Friday.

Pizarro should be ready when the season resumes Jan. 25.

Bayern also will be without midfielder Mehmet Scholl and defenders Willy Sagnol and Sammy Kuffour at Saturday's match against Stuttgart.

Elber keen to honour Bayern contract

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Brazilian striker Elber said Friday he wants to honor his contract with Bayern Munich which runs until 2004.

There has been speculation in the German media that Elber, who has already said he will not extend his contract beyond 2004, might leave at the end of this season, enabling his club to receive a transfer fee.

"Maybe it would be nice for Bayern if I left in 2003 because of the transfer fee but I definitely hope to stay at the club until 2004," the 30-year-old, who joined Bayern from VfB Stuttgart in 1997, told reporters.

Bayern anger over judicial probe into Kahn foul

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Bayern Munich bosses were furious Friday after learning that goalkeeper Oliver Kahn faces a judicial investigation into a foul he committed on Bayer Leverkusen striker Thomas Brdaric in a game over two months ago.

State prosecutors in Cologne confirmed they had started a probe into alleged attempted bodily harm after receiving a complaint and that they would study the case before deciding whether to file any charges.

Kahn came under heavy criticism for grabbing Brdaric's neck in Bayern's 2-1 defeat at Leverkusen on September 28, an offence for which he escaped with a yellow card. Brdaric said after the game that he had feared for his life.

But Bayern commercial manager Uli Hoeness made his feelings clear Friday, telling reporters: "April 1 is not until next year." April 1 is a traditional day for playing hoaxes.

He added: "I fully trust our justice. If the prosecutors react normally, they will throw this into the dustbin."

It is not known where the complaint has come from but it is not from Brdaric. "Several people called me and suggested I should take legal action but I have nothing to do with this," he said.

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.