In 2021, FC Bayern will experience one of the worse evenings in the club’s history at its annual general meeting, with a lot of anger aroused especially when it comes to the question of the partnership with Qatar. The club grandees are better prepared this year. The evening is going particularly well for President Hainer.
Before the expected re-election of Herbert Hainer as President of FC Bayern Munich, the controversial subject of Qatar was again discussed controversially but surprisingly objectively at the annual general meeting of the German soccer record champions. In his half-hour speech, CEO Oliver Kahn postponed a decision on the partnership with the airline Qatar Airlines into the new year before the speeches of the members. The lucrative sponsorship contract expires next summer.
“We will continue to discuss the issue intensively after the World Cup and find a solution for FC Bayern,” announced Kahn on Saturday evening in the Audi Dome. “Some fans – and I respect that – are very critical of our cooperation with our partner Qatar Airlines,” said the 53-year-old. That’s why we exchanged ideas intensively. Kahn justified the cooperation. “There has been progress in Qatar on labor rights and human rights.” Nobody said that Qatar is a country “in which European standards are met. But if you want to change and initiate something, you have to meet people, talk to them and exchange ideas instead of excluding them,” argued the Bayern boss.
Club President Hainer had apologized to the members at the beginning of the meeting for “mistakes” in dealing with the Qatar problem at last year’s escalated club convention. That arrived in the hall. The 68-year-old successor to Honorary President Uli Hoeneß, who sat listening attentively in the front row, was elected with 1092 yes votes for a second three-year term. 218 voting members voted against him, 85 abstained. “I will not disappoint you,” said Hainer to the members.
As in the previous year, Qatar critic Michael Ott complained about the attitude of the club’s management in dealing with the emirate. The clubs are “finally instrumentalized”, which is “unacceptable” from his point of view. He asked Hainer directly whether he would extend the contract as president. “I can’t answer that question with a yes or no today,” said the President. Under no circumstances will you remain silent about grievances.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann and professionals Thomas Müller, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Kingsley Coman had already left the Audi Dome on the eve of the important top Bundesliga game against SC Freiburg when Kahn spoke about his sporting goals for this season. He called on the pros to develop “this greed” again in the Bundesliga in order “to become champions again this season. The eleven is our clear goal,” said Kahn on the current title series. In his diary, he also “marked red” the Champions League final and the DFB Cup final after the early failure last season.
Despite renewed losses in the course of the corona pandemic, the Bundesliga Croesus was able to show black numbers again for the past championship season. The turnover of the entire group was 665.7 million euros, the surplus after taxes was 12.7 million euros. “That’s a strong result,” said Chief Financial Officer Jan-Christian Dreesen (55). The Kahn deputy, who will leave in the summer of 2023, was celebrated by the members with ovations for his work. With “wet eyes” Dreesen left the lectern.
