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Beckenbauer to miss World Cup games after FIFA ban
Franz Beckenbauer has cancelled plans to fly to Brazil to attend the World Cup semi-final and final matches after world governing body FIFA banned the German icon from all football activity for 90 days over his refusal to cooperate with an investigation.
On Friday FIFA suspended Beckenbauer from football for 90 days for failing to cooperate with an investigation by the ethics committee into the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Photo by Sven Hoppe/dpa
Eric Dobias, dpa
Franz Beckenbauer has cancelled plans to fly to Brazil to attend the World Cup semi-final and final matches after world governing body FIFA banned the German icon from all football activity for 90 days over his refusal to cooperate with an investigation.
"Franz Beckenbauer cannot participate in any football-related activity, which includes, amongst other things, being invited to attend or attending on a private basis any football match in any capacity," Alan Sullivan, the deputy chairman of the FIFA ethics committee's adjudicatory chamber, wrote in a statement.
The ban came after Beckenbauer declined to respond to inquiries by the chairman of the investigatory chamber, Michael J. Garcia, who is looking into corruption allegations surrounding the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
"The World Cup has been cancelled for me," Beckenbauer told Bild newspaper. "I assume that I am no more welcome by FIFA."
