Controversial sponsorship
Bayern boss counters critics: “Hopefully not a plane trip”
November 2, 2025 – 1:54 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
In terms of sport, things are currently going well for FC Bayern. However, there was discord at the annual general meeting due to a sponsor. Jan-Christian Dreesen became clear.
FC Bayern’s partnership with the airline Emirates is arousing discussion – and was once again a topic at the club’s annual general meeting. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen clearly supported the controversial sponsor.
Dreesen rejected criticism of the collaboration with Emirates. The airline, based in the United Arab Emirates, has come under public criticism because the country is considered a supporter of the RSF militias. They are held responsible for serious human rights crimes in Sudan.
“We do not want to and we will not be able to answer geopolitical questions that are the tasks of politics,” said Dreesen. Professional sport is “ultimately dependent on us being able to pay for it,” he added, emphasizing that Emirates is a “deserving and long-standing partner in sport. We stand by this partnership and will continue to do so in the future.”
Even before Dreesen’s comments, club member Michael Ott had sharply criticized the partnership with Emirates. Ott, who had already questioned previous sponsorship deals with Qatar Airways and Rwanda, expressed incomprehension: “How can it be that our club repeatedly cultivates its image for such regimes that permanently damage the reputation of our club and contradict our values,” he said. His criticism was not consistently met with approval from fans. As soon as Ott entered the stage, he was booed and interrupted with heckling during his remarks.
In August, the Munich-based team signed a contract with Emirates until the 2031/32 season. Part of the deal includes, among other things, advertising space in the Allianz Arena. According to media reports, the club will receive around five million euros annually for the collaboration. Emirates also acts as a sponsor for top international clubs such as Real Madrid and Arsenal FC.
Dreesen initially reacted somewhat snippily to Ott’s accusations. “It’s nice to see you again. I missed you last year. Maybe you were on vacation. Hopefully not a plane trip,” he said.