A HUGE German brothel offering budget digs to Scotland fans is at the centre of Chinese spying fears, it has emerged.
The Pascha tower block – a nookie hotspot in host city Cologne’s red light district – has beds for just £169 a night.
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We told last week how the prices could tempt Tartan Army foot soldiers to book a room in the aptly named Horn Street venue.
It’s just four miles from the RheinEnergie Stadion where Steve Clarke’s hopefuls face Switzerland on June 19.
But it has since been reported in the German press that ‘spies’ could be housed on the 9th floor of the hotel which is owned by a Chinese businesswoman.
It raises the prospect of Scots being caught in compromising positions – or footie fans fans even trying to be recruited as agents.
Police carried out mass raids just two weeks ago at the plush villas of a range of lawyers and business person across Germany on behalf of public prosecutors.
It was claimed the action was to smash the network of 38 suspects who charged up to 360,000 Euros per head from wealthy Chinese clients wanting to secure German citizenship.
Emails and messages seen by German newspaper BILD showed the lawyers under investigation were linked to Pascha owner Jing Hu, 46, who bought Pascha for £10m in 2021.
Top German security expert Stefan Bisanz said Chinese spies had been active in Germany, adding: “People want to know what’s really going on there and it’s all a bit of a mystery.”
He added: “The British fan is more likely to become a victim than the normal citizen who knows the area and so he has to be more careful there.”
Peter Postleb, who helped organise the 2006 Germany World Cup said: “The Chinese secret service are involved and listening to people who are regime critical.”
The brothel responded humorously to espionage allegations by offering a “discount for spies” promotion, which includes an “agent’s breakfast” and a free newspaper.
A spokesman added: “Scotland Fans always have a good time with us and our waiters are always grateful.
“We can’t wait for Scotland supporters to come and pay us a visit in Cologne.”
We told how Scotland fans could still score bargain digs in the world’s largest brothel, amid rocketing hotel prices.
But party-loving supporters will need to be quick if they want to snap up one of just 13 rooms still available while hotel nightly costs elsewhere shoot up to more than £1,100.
Up to 1,000 men a day visit sex workers in the 11-storey building, which first opened its doors as the Eros Center in 1972. It also has a lap dancing bar and nightclub.
And Famous Tartan Army Magazine editor Iain Emerson reckoned it could be an attractive option for some of the 100,000 Scots set to flock to next month’s footie extravaganza.
He said: “I know some people who are going to be sleeping in vans so any room would certainly be an upgrade to that.
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“The tournament is getting closer and excitement is reaching fever pitch.”
Our men also face hosts Germany in the June 14 opener in Munich and Hungary in Stuttgart nine days later.