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Uli Hoeneß
Photo:
Sven Hoppe / dpa
Under certain conditions, Uli Hoeneß votes for an extension of the controversial partnership between FC Bayern Munich and Qatar Airways beyond 2023. "I don't have to decide that," said the honorary president in an interview with the German press agency, referring to the board of directors responsible for the record champions around Oliver Kahn. But: "Personally, I would tend to extend it if we have the feeling that we can make a contribution with this partnership, that things on site will improve and will continue to improve."
The annual general meeting at the end of November on the issue of Qatar escalated into a heated controversy between the Bayern leadership and some of the fans and members.
A membership application to vote on the partnership for the future was not accepted by the club's management.
Hoeneß then spoke of the "worst event" he had ever experienced at Bayern.
"I'm glad the mic ran out of juice"
The 69-year-old went to the lectern at the end of the meeting, but then left without a word.
"I'm glad the mic ran out of juice," he said now.
He would have wanted to stand by President Herbert Hainer and CEO Oliver Kahn.
“I would have wanted to tell people that it is legitimate to see things critically. But they are also part of FC Bayern. And none of us could have liked the picture that FC Bayern gave that evening. 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 for himself: "No, that doesn't fit now."
Hoeneß sees the Qatar problem as "a very elementary topic for the future of the club".
The latter needs the lucrative income from sponsorships in order to be able to continue to compete with clubs into which "money is being pumped endlessly by investors and sovereign wealth funds."
"At some point there could come a point at which our fans - and, by the way, the media too - would have to accept that the German soccer teams no longer play a role internationally."
Hoeneß promotes the motto "change through rapprochement" when dealing with countries such as the World Cup host country Qatar.
Human rights would only be better respected there »if one repeatedly pointed out the grievances in the dialogue.
Only then will things get better.
I am convinced that you have to be present there. "
ara / dpa
