“No Day for Triumph Howls”
FC Bayern fans warn despite the end for Qatar millions
6/28/2023, 4:42 p.m
For years, the active fans of FC Bayern Munich have been fighting the controversial Qatar sponsorship. The airline Qatar Airways has been transferring 25 million euros annually since 2018. The conflict escalated as early as 2021. The contract is now expiring and will not be extended. The fans are happy, but continue to warn.
The controversial sponsorship relationship between FC Bayern Munich and Qatar Airways has come to an end. For five years, the German soccer record champion advertised for the airline from Qatar and received many millions as part of this partnership – but also a lot of criticism. FC Bayern and the company from the 2022 World Cup host country announced that the contract, which expires this week, will not be extended.
After the end of the lucrative cooperation with a platinum partner, the series master has to take care of new income – it has been speculated about annual payments of up to 25 million euros since 2018. On the other hand, the club is going on a big hot topic. The reason for repeated criticism was the controversial human rights situation in Qatar. The government of the emirate largely rejects the allegations.
Uli Hoeneß points to critic Michael Ott.
(Photo: picture alliance / Eibner press photo)
During the games in the Allianz Arena, fans repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the partnership between their club and the company from the emirate with posters, which caused a lot of excitement at the annual general meetings. The conflict escalated at the 2021 membership meeting when there was rioting. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß even spoke of the “worst event I’ve ever experienced at Bayern”. After the end of the sponsor relationship, the first reactions from members were positive.
Uli Hoeneß attacked Michael Ott massively
A great critic, and one that is publicly recognized through his appearances at annual general meetings, is Michael Ott. The 30-year-old lawyer welcomed the end of the collaboration. “It shows me that fans can have an impact if they know how to use their resources. That’s a wonderful sign for the sport, for FC Bayern and for us fans,” said Ott. “I’m very happy, even if it came unexpectedly. The signs in the last few days and weeks have said something else.” President Herbert Hainer recently said that talks are in progress.
At the turbulent annual general meeting of FC Bayern in autumn 2021, Ott wanted to submit a spontaneous application to have the Munich sponsorship voted on with the airline Qatar Airways. But that was not the case at the memorable gathering. At the 2022 meeting, he spoke up again and was later verbally attacked by Hoeneß.
The fan association Club No. 12 now also emphasized the opportunity for co-determination from the curve. “Contrary to the often-expressed opinion that criticism and comments from fans would not help, the discussion about the sponsor shows well that you can achieve something if fans and members of clubs clearly articulate their opinions, but also direct discussions with the club are looking for,” said spokesman Alexander Salzweger to Spox and Goal. “It’s not a day for howling triumphantly, it’s just a good day for FC Bayern and its fans.”
Chief critic calls for further engagement in Qatar
FC Bayern and Qatar have been working together for a long time. The Munich team has been traveling to Doha for the winter training camp since 2011, and later they entered into a partnership with Hamad International Airport. The airline then became a sponsor in 2018, and its lettering has previously featured on the shirt sleeve. When the new kits were presented last month, the airline logo was already missing. At the time, the association was in talks with the company and checked whether it could manage further cooperation that would meet both the economic goals and social responsibility.
“FC Bayern Munich and Qatar Airways have worked together successfully and learned from each other,” said the new Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in a statement on Wednesday. There it was pointed out that the cooperation ended amicably.
“The connections that FC Bayern was able to establish with its fans in the Arab world through Qatar Airways will remain. Both partners have actively promoted an exchange between cultures,” the statement said. “It has always been the goal of FC Bayern and Qatar Airways to bring people together through football, including women’s football. Trusting, open exchanges have resulted in friendships that will continue to exist.”
The people of Munich now not only have to clarify who will be the sleeve sponsor in the future. The questions of which airline the ensemble will travel with and whether the stars will continue to Doha in the winter are also open. “It would be nice if the club continued the dialogue that started in Qatar as part of the men’s and women’s training camps with local activities,” said Ott.