"Had my problems with him": Hoeneß judges Lauterbach - and speaks about the Qatar scandal

Created: 01/03/2022, 05:24 AM

From: Christoph Klaucke

Bavaria Honorary President Uli Hoeneß praises Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

© Christoph Hardt / Imago

Uli Hoeneß issues an interim certificate to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach - with a surprising result.

FC Bayern's honorary president also takes a position on the Qatar issue.

Munich - Uli Hoeneß celebrates his 70th birthday on Wednesday.

The honorary president of FC Bayern withdrew from the operational business of the Munich-based company two years ago, and the FCB patron is now observing the work of his successors from afar.

But he still has clear opinions.

Hoeneß also has an eye on politics and the current corona situation.

Germany's new health minister, Karl Lauterbach, made a powerful impression after a few weeks in office and even caused a rethink at Hoeneß.

Uli Hoeneß: FC Bayern Honorary President raves about Health Minister Lauterbach

“As long as he was not in office, I had my problems with him.

I found that he knows everything better.

Now I'm a total fan of Karl Lauterbach because I have the feeling that he understands a lot about the matter and is a doer, ”said Hoeneß in an interview with the German press agency.

in Macher, Hoeneß used to be himself: in 1979 he took over an average Bundesliga club with financial problems as manager and then led FC Bayern to world fame over four decades.

The 58-year-old Lauterbach has to manage the corona measures in the new German traffic light government.

Hoeneß praised the SPD politician for his thirst for action in the first few weeks in the ministerial office and criticized his predecessor: “For example, he takes stock of the vaccine and worries about what is missing.

As soon as the drug paxlovid against severe Covid courses has been accepted, he orders a million packs.

His predecessor Jens Spahn was the announcement world champion, but achieved little. ”Lauterbach is“ not everyone's choice - but he is someone who acts, and I prefer someone like that ten times ”.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is fighting the corona pandemic.

© Kay Nietfeld / dpa

Uli Hoeneß turns around when vaccination is compulsory - praise for Bayern star Kimmich

Hoeneß is a clear advocate of vaccination, but he rethought the currently hotly debated introduction of mandatory vaccination in Germany. “At times I was in favor, but then I imagined: What do you do with a person who absolutely does not want to be vaccinated? I consider mandatory vaccination with no ifs and buts to be too big a problem that can tend to divide society. But the way the situation is, it also means that the rights of those who have not been vaccinated must be restricted, ”says the former Bayern president.

Hoeneß welcomes the fact that national player Josuha Kimmich has rethought vaccination after suffering from his own corona disease.

"I give him credit for standing up and saying, 'I got it wrong.'

I would like that from more people, ”explains Hoeneß.

“I think it's good that he wants to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

That can give impetus to many people who think differently. "

Video: Hoeneß for the extension of the Bayern contract with Qatar

Uli Hoeneß defends controversial Qatar sponsorship by FC Bayern

As for “his” FC Bayern, Hoeneß is still concerned with the controversial Qatar sponsorship over a month after the chaotic general meeting. "Personally, I would tend to extend it if we have the feeling that we can make a contribution with this partnership, that things will improve on site and will continue to improve," says Hoeneß.

Bayern members wanted to submit a motion to the annual general meeting at the end of November to vote on the Qatar sponsorship.

They saw it as a violation of FC Bayern's values.

Qatar is criticized, among other things, for disregarding human rights.

However, the application was not approved by the regional court in advance, which led to chaotic scenes at the meeting.

Hoeneß himself stepped onto the stage at the end of the event and wanted to calm the angry supporters.

FC Bayern: Uli Hoeneß clears up chaotic scenes at the annual general meeting

Hoeneß then spoke of the "worst event" he had ever experienced at Bayern.

The 69-year-old went to the lectern at the end of the meeting, but then left without a word.

"I'm glad that the mic ran out of juice," he now clarified.

He would have wanted to stand by President Herbert Hainer and CEO Oliver Kahn.

"As I know myself, my words would have come out of me emotionally - and even if I had meant well in terms of FC Bayern, it would probably have been counterproductive in this atmosphere," said Hoeneß, looking back.

So he came to the conclusion: "No, that doesn't fit now." FC Bayern is currently again affected by the corona virus.