Fedor Radmann has denied Germany bribed voters in order to win the rights to the 2006 World Cup ©Getty Images

An agreement between the German Football Association (DFB) and the North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) President Jack Warner was drawn up to ensure he would continue their campaign to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup, it has been claimed. 

Fedor Radmann, a close associate of Franz Beckenbauer, who led the bid, dismissed allegations that the agreement amounted to bribery. 

The arrangement between the DFB and CONCACAF allegedly offered non-cash incentives such as tickets and friendly matches to Warner, since banned for life from football having been a central figure in corruption at FIFA. 

Beckenbauer confirmed the existence of the draft agreement, uncovered by law firm Freshfields during their probe into how the country won the rights to the tournament following allegations of corruption. 

Radmann claimed the document was aimed at ensuring they did nott make an “enemy” of Warner, then a vice-president of FIFA and who carried a lot of weight within the inner circles at world football’s governing body.

Germany was named by FIFA as hosts of the 2006 World Cup in July 2000, beating the favourites South Africa. 

“Back then, we just wanted to keep Jack Warner at arm's length,” Radmann told German newspaper Die Welt.

“It was clear to us that he would not vote for us... but we didn't want to have him as an enemy shortly before the allocation [of the right to host the World Cup].

“Jack Warner was FIFA vice-president, he was an important man and unbelievably influential.

“We simply didn't want him to work against us.

“For this reason, we may have tried to quieten him.”

Franz Beckenbauer has denied Germany bribed voters during its successful bid to host the 2006 FIFA Wolrd Cup ©Getty Images
Franz Beckenbauer has denied Germany bribed voters during its successful bid to host the 2006 FIFA Wolrd Cup ©Getty Images

The German Bid Committee was accused by magazine Der Spiegel last October of using a slush fund of €6.7 million (£5.3 million/$7.6 million) to buy votes.

Beckenbauer, who captained West Germany to the World Cup in 1974 and then coached Germany to the title in 1990, and then-DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach, who resigned from his role in November, reportedly knew about the fund.

The money was allegedly a loan made by former Adidas chief executive Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

It was suggested the cash was used to bribe four Asian members of FIFA's Executive Committee.

It was also alleged that FIFA had been involved in covering up the illegal payment when Louis-Dreyfus, who died of leukemia in 2009, demanded it be repaid.

“I am still saying, completely clearly: We didn't bribe anybody,” said Radmann.

Radmann’s comments following the DFB opening a lawsuit against Beckenbauer, Niersbach and Theo Zwanziger as a result of the corruption allegations.