MUNICH (GERMANY), 16 Oct. (dpa/EP) –
The honorary president of Bayern Munich, Uli Hoeness, was supported this Sunday by the re-elected president of the club, Herbert Hainer, after his verbal confrontation in the entity’s general assembly with a critical partner of the agreements with Qatar.
“This is how we know Uli Hoeness, he is emotional, he is Bayern to the core. He also defends his Bayern in every way,” Hainer told Bild television channel.
Hoeness had a tense verbal confrontation with partner Michael Ott at the Audi Dome, multiple media outlets reported. “His performance by him was disgraceful. This is the Bayern Munich soccer club and not the general assembly of Amnesty International,” Hoeness told Ott on Saturday.
Hainer added that Hoeness defended Bayern, saying the criticism was unwarranted. Ott wanted to introduce a motion off the agenda at the tumultuous annual general meeting a year ago for members to vote on Bayern’s sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways, which was highly controversial among some Munich fans. At that time, the directive chaired by Hainer did not allow it.
On Saturday night, Ott asked Hainer directly if he was going to extend the contract. “Today I cannot answer that question with a yes or a no,” answered the president, who considered that the appearance of the critical partner in the assembly was fine.
Hainer again stressed the financial importance of the cooperation with Qatar Airways. “Of course, it is an important economic contribution for us, which we need to keep our entire structure running. We also want to try to make a sociopolitical difference in the country with this partnership and strengthen the forces of reform,” he explained.