Police have begun searching the headquarters of the German Football Association in Frankfurt today over alleged tax evasion in relation to the 2006 World Cup.

It has been confirmed by the public prosecutor's office that the tax authorities have visited the offices amid allegations that illegal funds were used to secure the World Cup, which was held nine years ago.

According to Bild, the homes of DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach and the man he replaced, Theo Zwanziger, are also being searched.

It is alleged that a payment was made to world governing body FIFA during Germany's bidding process to host the football tournament.

"We are searching for incriminating material that backs up tax evasion suspicions," dw.com quotes one of the investigators as saying.

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the governing body's general secretary Jerome Valcke and UEFA president Michel Platini are currently serving 90-day suspensions amid allegations of widespread corruption.