Former Germany international Christoph Metzelder is under investigation on suspicion of spreading child pornography, Hamburg public prosecutors told ESPN FC on Wednesday.
Metzelder's property in Dusseldorf was searched by police on Tuesday and his electronic devices were seized for further inspection.
Hamburg public prosecutors told ESPN FC the devices would be searched for evidence before any further update is provided.
Prosecutors added in a statement it had been alleged Metzelder had sent images with pornographic content involving children to a recipient in Hamburg via WhatsApp.
The statement also read that Metzelder, who has not been arrested, had cooperated with police.
The former defender recently appeared on the television show Sportschau, aired by German broadcaster ARD, during the draw for the second round of the DFB Pokal. ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky said in a statement on Wednesday: "Until the allegations have been clarified, we will be putting our working relationship with Christoph Metzelder on hold."
Metzelder, 38, represented Germany 47 times between 2001 and 2008, and played for Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Schalke at club level before retiring in 2013.