The corruption scandal sweeping world soccer engulfed Germany as FIFA said Friday that it would investigate "very serious allegations" that voters were bribed to win Germany the 2006 World Cup bid.
The latest claims of wrongdoing linked to soccer's governing body broke as suspended President Sepp Blatter went public with his fight to get his FIFA ethics case thrown out.
Blatter may have deepened the prospect of a long ban by admitting there was only a "gentleman's agreement" for the 2011 payment he authorized to UEFA President Michel Platini that led to their both being suspended by FIFA last week after it emerged through a criminal investigation.