German football federation chief Wolfgang Niersbach said Monday he was stepping down, taking “political responsibility” for graft claims related to the 2006 World Cup but admitting no personal guilt.
“I was there from the first day of the bid for the 2006 FIFA World Cup all the way to the final film of the ‘summer fairytale’ and have worked throughout all the years … in a clean, reliable and correct manner,” he said.
“In my assigned areas of marketing, media, accreditations and event organisation, I can say with a clear conscience that I have am personally beyond reproach,” he added.