FC Bayern Munich has published answers to a list of questions from its own members about the controversial Qatar sponsorship. The fan representatives involved are disappointed.
“Unfortunately, many answers are just hot air. Numerous questions remain completely unanswered“Explains Michael Ott to the sports show. Ott, a member of FC Bayern, was one of two fan representatives who presented the list of questions to the club at a round table in July this year on the subject of “Development in Qatar”. Shortly before the At the annual general meeting, FC Bayern has now published the answers to 32 questions on the club’s website.
Improvement of human rights in Qatar by FC Bayern – none
Officials of the club have repeatedly claimed in the past that there have been improvements in human and labor rights in Qatar since FC Bayern has been a partner of Qatar. For example Karl-Heinz Rummenigge at the Annual General Meeting 2019 or most recently the Honorary President Uli Hoeneß.
In its answers, the association refers, among other things, to the dialogue with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and its commitment to women’s sport and equality. “So FC Bayern can announce that Qatar Airlines adheres to all the rules of international aviation regulations, but cannot find a concrete answer as to what progress in Qatar can be proven to be due to the sponsorship agreement“, explains Michael Ott.
Fan representative Michael Ott
Club #12: “Answers somewhat meaningless“
Club Nr. 12, the association of active Bayern fans, has been criticizing the partnership between the club and Qatar for many years. A representative of the association told Sportschau that the answers “somewhat empty“, but it is still positive that FC Bayern have kept their promise to answer the questions.
“However, the replies emphasized somewhat too strongly that one of the visible results of the critical examination of the topic is the round table. Ultimately, the round table that Club No. 12 had been asking for for years only came about after the pressure of the failed 2021 AGM“It goes on to say. The sponsorship, which is lucrative for the association, caused a dispute at the general meeting in autumn 2021 and ultimately chaos. There is another annual general meeting on Saturday.
“Frustrating that factual arguments are ignored“
Since the summer of 2018, the airline Qatar Airways Munich sponsor. FC Bayern has already announced that it will decide on the controversial partnership after the World Cup at the end of the year. The contract expires in 2023. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß had advocated extending the contract with Qatar Airways at the weekend.
FC Bayern fans protest with a banner against the Qatar sponsorship
“The impression arises that the decision to extend the contract has been made. It’s frustrating that so many of the fans’ factual arguments are being ignored“, says Michael Ott. And Club No. 12 also suspects a contract extension: “Is there really a critical discussion going on here or are the answers nothing more than preparing the members for an upcoming contract extension and taking the wind out of the critics’ sails?“It says to the sports show.