Former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge reacted calmly to protests by Bayern fans against the club's partnership with the Emirate of Qatar.
“Bayern Munich has a partnership with Qatar Airways, and I was never a Pharisee there, if I may put it that way.
We got good money from this contract, ”said Rummenigge in an interview with WDR.
At the top Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg on Saturday, Munich football fans protested with a poster. Qatar has been accused of human rights violations for years; according to media reports, more than 6,500 migrant workers have died since the 2022 World Cup was awarded to the emirate. "For money we wash everything clean," said a large banner, among other things. Bayern fans have been protesting for a long time. In the host country of the 2022 World Cup, the Munich professionals regularly complete their training camp in winter. In addition, the Qatari airline Qatar Airways has been a major sponsor of Bavaria for several years.
“In principle, one also has to say that in Qatar of all the Arab states there are currently the best or the greatest improvements in terms of human and labor rights.
It is well known that they have no comparable standard to Germany or Europe, ”said Rummenigge.
He was “fundamentally optimistic” that human and labor rights in these countries, especially in Qatar, “will also improve through football.” For Rummenigge, the main argument of the cooperation with Qatar is international competitiveness.