Beckenbauer latest to face lawsuit

German football chiefs Friday launched a lawsuit involving Franz Beckenbauer, world governing body FIFA, two former German federation (DFB) presidents as well as the former head of Adidas as part of the 2006 World Cup scandal.

"The DFB has taken the measure to avoid a statute of limitations" that could prevent a future claim, they said in a statement released to sports news agency SID.

As a result, the DFB reserved the right to reclaim the mysterious 6.7 million euro payment made to FIFA which is at the heart of corruption allegations dogging the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup.

However, Beckenbauer has insisted that the sum had to be paid in order to obtain a bigger grant from world football's governing body.