Bayern Munich defended Franz Beckenbauer from criticism over his role in the scandal concerning Germany's 2006 World Cup bid on Friday.
Bayern president Karl Hopfner told the club's annual general meeting that it had Beckenbauer to thank for a "hell of a lot" as player, coach and president, and that the club would not have its new stadium without the 2006 World Cup.
"Beckenbauer is rightly our honorary president -- and so will it stay," said Hopfner, who suggested Beckenbauer was being "condemned without trial" in the wake of corruption allegations initially published by German weekly Der Spiegel.
Beckenbauer had a chief role in bringing the 2006 World Cup to Germany but is under pressure over a €6.7 million payment made to FIFA before the tournament was awarded and over a contract he signed with disgraced former high-ranking FIFA official Jack Warner.
Beckenbauer has denied any vote buying.