German FA (DFB) President Reinhard Grindel "sharply criticised Franz Beckenbauer on Wednesday over payment from a sponsor" of the 2006 World Cup that Beckenbauer headed. Beckenbauer, who led the organizing committee for the World Cup in Germany and had said that "he had done the work on a voluntary basis," received €5.5M "from a deal involving event sponsor Oddset." He had not been paid directly by betting company Oddset but through the DFB as "part of a deal that was only revealed on Tuesday." Beckenbauer, who also faces a criminal investigation over the awarding of the World Cup, "has not been available for comment" (REUTERS, 9/14).
Footballers in Spain will be "able to take water breaks when matches are played in extremely hot weather" after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) backed a call for a change in the rules. The RFEF accepted a petition from the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE), "backing a change that will mean play can be temporarily halted for players to be hydrated." The development "follows a weekend in which soaring temperatures affected games" (ESPN.com, 9/14).
Celta Vigo "could become the next La Liga club to fall into foreign hands." After club President Carlos Mouriño "left open a possible sale," radio program Onda Cera Vigo reported Mouriño "already has a very advanced agreement with an Asian investor." The "transfer of power could be announced at the end of the year" (SUPERDEPORTE, 9/13).
