A Mail on Sunday investigation suggests that German football legend Franz Beckenbauer had a central role in endorsing a financial inducement to Malta just weeks before Malta voted for Germany to stage the 2006 World Cup.

Beckenbauer was the president of Bayern Munich at the time as well as the head of Germany's 2006 organising committee.

The newspaper said it obtained a secret document showing that a lucrative deal was struck in June 2000 for Bayern Munich to face Malta in a friendly.

It shows a benefit of $250,000 to the Maltese FA, five weeks before Malta voted for Germany to host the 2006 tournament.

The newspaper said the hush-hush contract including a clause stating that even the existence of that contract, signed by then Malta FA president Joseph Mifsud, should remain secret was drawn up.

The Mail claims that according to its sources, a secret meeting was held between Beckenbauer and Mifsud at the latter’s private residence.

It said it has a copy of the contract signed a month before the vote in July 2000 that gave Germany the 2006 World Cup.

Claims that Beckenbauer was in Malta to help negotiate the contract was aired in court this year in a legal dispute between Malta FA president Norman Darmanin Demajo, who was treasurer and the time and Mifsud.