Bayern Munich's chief executive Oliver Kahn plays on time in the controversial issue of Qatar.
The 52-year-old does not rule out a continuation of the controversial partnership with Qatar Airlines beyond 2023, which is controversial among many club members and fans.
“I can't rule out anything,” said Kahn on Sunday at “Sky 90”.
"When the time comes, we will deal with it," said the CEO a little more than a week after the annual general meeting of the football champions, at which the Qatar issue was emotionally heated. Kahn indicated that the club's management would also wait for the 2022 World Cup in the desert state and then reassess the situation. "Let's let the World Cup come our way, then we'll evaluate the whole thing," said Kahn.
At the general meeting, the lucrative Qatar sponsorship caused controversy and, in the end, chaos. A membership application to vote on the partnership with the airline for the future was not accepted by the club's management. Kahn then asked the question: “Does Qatar Airways suit FC Bayern? We also transport our values to Qatar. We all know what power football has, ”he said, referring to human rights, for example.
The former national player believes that it is helpful that “the spotlight” is also in the country after the World Cup. "We will take a very close look at these partnerships in the future," assured Kahn. The annual general meeting with the escalated Qatar debate had been processed internally, reported the chairman of the board. "We are not incapable of criticism and will try to have a sensible dialogue with our fans and members on this Qatar issue."
The criticism that the bosses did not take a position at the “party congress” could not be “understood”. The annual general meeting is "not the right forum" for him. The Qatar opponents wanted to put pressure on the club, as the main shareholder of FC Bayern AG, to persuade the board of directors not to at least not renew the contract with the Qatari airline. Kahn also referred to the financial pressure of FC Bayern in competition with other European top clubs. The difference to the English Premier League has long been "glaring".
Kahn also alleged, referring to polls carried out by the club, that the matter "the majority, all of our fans are not so keenly interested".
Kahn also followed the narrative that one could achieve more in dialogue with the controversial host of the 2022 World Cup than with rejection.
“I think that can make a difference,” he said.
With regard to its sponsors, FC Bayern defined “clear criteria that we will use as a basis in the future”.
This also applies to Qatar.