Germany provided an arms shipment to Saudi Arabia in return for the kingdom’s support for the former’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup, a German newspaper has reported.

The claims are just the latest to hit world soccer’s governing body, FIFA, over the course of the last week. The organisation is currently being investigated by the FBI and by Swiss authorities over alleged bribery, and FIFA’s long-term president, Sepp Blatter, has said he will step down.

Die Zeit reported that the German government, under then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, lifted an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia a week before a vote took place in Zurich to elect the host of the 2006 World Cup.

The newspaper alleged that as a result of this decision, an arms shipment was sent to Saudi Arabia, which included rocket-propelled grenades.

Schroder’s administration allegedly withdrew the ban in an attempt to secure support from Saudi Arabia to vote for Germany, instead of Morocco.

The newspaper said that German firms, including pharmaceuticals giant Bayer and car manufacturer Volkswagen, had also tried to shore up support for the bid, by promising to increase investment in Thailand and South Korea.

Germany eventually won the rights to host the 2006 World Cup by 12-11, with one abstention.