FC Bayern Munich wrote a letter to its members, commenting on what happened at the annual general meeting. In dealing with the Qatar issue, the club management admitted its own mistakes.
“We were all aware that a lot had built up on the subject of Qatar. We ask for your understanding that we could not vote on an application that evening,” said the record champions’ letter, who also assured the discourse to intensify its own members. “We want to find a way together,” said the FCB executive committee.
Last Thursday, the top management of the FCB around President Herbert Hainer was verbally attacked by the members present at the annual general meeting. There were tumultuous conditions, “Hainer out” shouts and horrified remarks by honorary president Uli Hoeneß (“worst event I have ever experienced at FC Bayern”).
The trigger for the events was a motion submitted by FCB member Michael Ott to vote on the continuation of the Qatar Airways sponsorship, which is particularly criticized in fan and ultra circles, and which expires in 2023.
After the FCB had allowed all deadlines to pass to put the application on the agenda, Ott went through the judiciary. However, his lawsuit was rejected twice by the Munich District Court and Regional Court, which is why those responsible for Bavaria felt they had the right not to include the point for the YHV. In the end, Hainer broke off the meeting amid loud protests before the members were able to present the last registered requests to speak.
FC Bayern admits errors in handling the Qatar issue
In handling the issue, the club management now admitted to the members that they “certainly did not do everything right” and assured that they had contacted those members “whose requests to speak were no longer taken into account”.
Ott, the initiator of the Qatar application, had already confirmed this via Twitter and reported on a call from President Hainer. “We exchanged briefly about the AGM and stayed that way that we will have a personal conversation about Qatar and the AGM.” When this conversation will take place has not yet been determined. “What is certain, however, is that the conflict must be resolved,” wrote Ott.
The letter from the club’s management on Wednesday also stated that initial decisions “had been taken to improve the dialogue with our members”. After all, they now want to reflect on the common goal of making the club “the most successful football club in the world” on the one hand, while maintaining independence at the same time. But you also have to think globally: “This also means that we carry our FC Bayern identity, our values and our attitude out into the world.”
