The Landgericht Frankfurt am Main has decided against opening proceedings against Wolfgang Niersbach (pictured), Theo Zwanziger and Horst Schmidt, former Presidents and Secretary General of the German football association (DFB) for tax evasion, reports the Associated Press. All three had been accused of falsifying tax returns in connection with the hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. The charges are understood to relate to a €6.7 million payment, which a report commissioned by the DFB found was falsely declared as intended for a gala event connected to the FIFA 2006 World Cup Opening Ceremony by the German local organising committee in 2005.

The report explained its actual intention was to repay a 2002 loan from Robert Louis-Dreyfus, who was then CEO of Adidas. The German sportswear manufacturer was a FIFA Partner for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It is understood that the gala event the payment was slated to finance never took place. Prosecutors now have one week in which to file an appeal to the higher Regional Court.