Shortly before FC Bayern left for the training camp in Doha, the fan club umbrella organization Club Nr. 12 called for an end to the cooperation with sponsor Qatar Airways.
It’s about “that the sponsorship is ended. How and by whom is secondary,” said the spokesman for the association of active Bayern fans, Alexander Salzweger, the portals “Spox” and “Goal” on Wednesday. “I can imagine that Qatar is no longer interested in a club like Bayern. There are discussions all the time, they have to send representatives to round tables and are attacked at every general meeting: they don’t think that’s cool.”
Qatar Airways has been a sponsor at FC Bayern since the summer of 2018. The contract with the airline expires this year. World Cup host Qatar has been sharply criticized for the human rights situation and the situation for foreign workers. Many FC Bayern fans are very critical of the financially lucrative cooperation with the airline.
Kahn: “We will find a solution”
CEO Oliver Kahn announced at FC Bayern’s annual general meeting last October: “We will continue to discuss the issue intensively after the World Cup and find a solution for FC Bayern.”
Munich’s Honorary President Uli Hoeneß verbally attacked Qatar critic Michael Ott on the fringes of the annual general meeting. “Your appearance was embarrassing. This is the Bayern Munich football club and not the General Assembly of Amnesty International,” said Hoeneß zu Ott after his speech.
Club president Herbert Hainer had defended the honorary president. “That’s how we know Uli Hoeneß, he’s emotional, he’s FC Bayern through and through. He also defends his FC Bayern with all facets,” said Hainer.
Ott wanted to submit a spontaneous motion at the tumultuous 2021 annual general meeting to have the members vote on FC Bayern’s sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways, which was very controversial among some Munich fans. The presidium around Herbert Hainer did not allow that at the time.
Bayern have been preparing for the second half of the season in Qatar for years. In the past two years, the training camp had been canceled due to the corona pandemic. Coach Julian Nagelsmann and his team are leaving for the emirate on Friday and will stay until January 12th. On January 20th, FC Bayern will continue in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig.
