Criticism of the Munich fans in February at the sponsorship deal of the club with “Visit Rwanda”
Foto: Imago/Oryk Haist
FC Bayern came to a partnership with the state airline Emirates from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (VAE) two years after the end of the controversial sponsorship by Qatar Airways. Why do you see that very critically?
It is very similar to Qatar Airways. Qatar and the VAE differ in nuances, but the human rights situation is similarly difficult. Social freedoms are limited, freedom of expression is almost inexistent, there is a oppressive regime. The location of the guest workers is at least as precarious as in Qatar. In addition, the VAE support of severe war crimes in Sudan is accused, similar to Bayern sponsor Rwanda in the Congo. Values that FC Bayern describes as important, including right -wing sexual minorities, are not preserved in the VAE. But the association is committed to these values. This is contradictory. So it is an inevitability to reject this sponsorship.
FC Bayern could argue that Dubai is considered comparatively liberal within the VAE and in the entire golf region.
This should be done by the numerous politically detained questions about how liberal they consider this country. Of course you can travel there as a tourist, but it is certainly not a liberal country. And a comparison with the other illiberal golf states cannot be a yardstick to determine what a liberal state is.
Interview
Imago/Mladen Lackovic
Michael there Lives in Strasbourg and, as a lawyer, advises French companies on German commercial law. He became a fan of FC Bayern in 2002, and since 2007 he has been a member of the club. The 32-year-old about Bavaria’s new partner Emirates, possible advantages of another strategy in the election of sponsors and about it, with which he wants to confront President Herbert Hainer at the annual general meeting in autumn.
FC Bayern refers to other top European clubs that have been working with Emirates for years. What do you think of it?
This means that self -dwelling is used. I don’t understand why you always want to orient yourself on others. We are FC Bayern, we are one of the largest clubs in the world. We could go ahead and show how to do it right. This can also be a unique selling point that can be used to market yourself. Instead, we only look at other big clubs and ahms their mistakes. Just because others do something is not good. This sponsorship remains morally wrong, regardless of what other clubs do.
Associations such as the Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain with Qatar, Manchester City with Abu Dhabi or Newcastle United with Saudi Arabia are owned by Gulf States and therefore have almost unlimited funds. Can you follow the argument that FC Bayern also needs these donors in order to be able to keep up at least halfway?
You go into a dance with the devil when you let yourself be sponsored by the VAE, which at the same time outsource the Financial FairPlay at Manchester City with all means of art so that the competition distorts the competition extremely and harm us directly. Compared to the unlimited funds at the clubs mentioned, the rumbled five million euros annually from Emirates to FC Bayern are a drop on the hot stone.
Anyone who believes that in the long run we could keep up with these super -rich clubs lies themselves. Their financial lead is getting bigger and cannot be catched up with sponsorships. These states are the enemies of football. We are not allowed to get involved with you, because otherwise we will only turn this spiral further. Rather, one would have to fight this system in which dubious states abuse football clubs for their geopolitical games. Astonishing, however, are those who say football should be apolitical for this sponsorship. They make themselves a vicarious agent for the political goals of these countries.
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In 2021, they had submitted an application at the annual general meeting (JHV) to prevent sponsorships such as with Qatar Airways in the future. Are you looking for a new attempt?
I will think about that. What I can say: The predominant legal view tends to my opinion that such an application, as I made it at the time, was permitted.
How do you look forward to the JHV in autumn, on which President Herbert Hainer wants to stand for re -election?
Herbert Hainer is the representative of the association in the Aktiengesellschaft (AG). He should ensure that the values of the association are also preserved in the AG, and he can have a say in the Supervisory Board to fill the management posts. Now, however, we still have management staff in the AG, which closes unanimously scandalous sponsorship contracts that are incompatible with the values of our association. Mr. Hainer has always defended these contracts himself. For me personally, this is a crucial point if he is available. This topic must also be discussed on the JHV.