FIFA bans Niersbach over WC bid

FIFA's ethics committee on Monday banned Wolfgang Niersbach, former president of the German Football Association (DFB), for one year over misconduct surrounding the country's successful 2006 World Cup bid.

"Mr. Niersbach has been banned for one year from all football-related activities," a statement from FIFA's in-house court said, noting that the German official "failed to report findings about possible misconduct concerning the awarding of the 2006 FIFA World Cup".

Niersbach served as vice-president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee.

The 65-year-old had resigned from the German federation amid accusations the DFB used a slush fund of 10 million Swiss francs (6.7 million euros, $8 million, according to the exchange rate at that time) in 2000 to buy the right to host the tournament.

He has insisted that quitting his job should have been punishment enough because he was not directly accused of paying bribes or financially benefiting from corruption.