BERLIN, Oct. 10 (dpa/EP) –
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has acknowledged that he is in favor of extending the contract with club sponsor Qatar Airways despite criticism from various fan groups.
“I’m in favor of extending it – the contract – but I don’t make the decisions, that’s up to the board,” he told Bayerischer Rundfunk on Sunday night.
Hoeness is a member of the Bayern supervisory board and is therefore also involved in important matters at the club through his office. “The board of directors has to clarify this first. And then you have to ask if the Qataris will extend it. Because after the theater in Europe in recent years, it is not certain that they will extend it,” he said.
Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, has been criticized for its record against human rights, but local leaders have dismissed the accusations and said great progress has been made.
Its national airline, Qatar Airways, is one of Bayern’s main sponsors and the club regularly hold winter training camps in the country. This relationship has long been criticized by the fans and even led to a turbulent end to Bayern’s general meeting last year.
Hoeness recently came under fire from Bayern fans for his support of the club’s partnership with Qatar. “State visits, training camps, thousands of deaths from World Cup celebrations… The best thing is your own conscience, Uli H.!” Fans wrote on banners during the match against Bayer Leverkusen.