BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich gained’t make a decision whether or not to lengthen its debatable sponsorship settlement with Qatar Airways till subsequent 12 months.
“We will continue to discuss the issue intensively after the World Cup and find a solution for FC Bayern,” leader govt Oliver Kahn informed 1,501 membership contributors at Bayern’s annual normal assembly on Saturday.
Kahn mentioned he revered fanatics’ issues about Bayern’s profitable association with Qatar Airways, even supposing many supporters say it damages the membership’s recognition on account of alleged human rights abuses within the Persian Gulf nation.
But the Bayern CEO additionally defended the sponsorship, which is due to run till the top of the present season.
“There has been progress in Qatar on labor rights and human rights,” Kahn mentioned. “Nobody instructed that Qatar is a rustic that meets European requirements. But if you need to trade and begin one thing, you’ve to meet other people, communicate to them, and trade concepts as an alternative of apart from them.”
Bayern president Herbert Hainer previous apologized to membership contributors for errors he mentioned he made final 12 months when he swiftly ended the AGM amid chaotic scenes when contributors shouted at and booed the membership’s administrators for refusing to speak about its sponsorship preparations with Qatar.
“That wasn’t how we know and want to see FC Bayern,” Hainer mentioned. “And I, too, made mistakes that evening as the chairman of the meeting. I would like to formally apologize for that again today.”
Hainer used to be applauded for his apology, however remained evasive when he used to be once more wondered on the problem of Qatar’s sponsorship through membership member Michael Ott, and whether or not Bayern supposed to proceed with the partnership.
“I can’t answer this question with a yes or no today,” Hainer mentioned.
Last 12 months on the AGM, Ott tried to resort a movement calling for a vote on Bayern’s sponsorship agreements with Qatar, but it surely wasn’t accepted through the membership, one of the most causes tempers become frayed.
Ott used to be later invited to a panel dialogue hosted through the membership in July to speak about its preparations with Qatar.
Hainer on Saturday used to be voted membership president for some other three-year time period. The 68-year-old former Adidas leader used to be the one candidate. Vice presidents Dieter Mayer and Walter Mennekes had been additionally re-elected.
Also, Bayern reported some other 12 months of robust monetary expansion in spite of the continuing results of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bavarian powerhouse introduced turnover of 665.7 million euros ($647 million) for the 2021-22 season, whilst pre-tax earnings larger from 5 million euros to 17.1 million euros.
“Hardly any other top European club has been able to consistently report profits like FC Bayern despite the pandemic over the past three years,” Bayern vice-chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen mentioned. “This is anything but a matter of course and has primarily to do with the DNA of FC Bayern, whereby we never spend more than we earn.”
Bayern made 224.2 million euros from sponsorship and advertising, whilst some other sizeable chew of source of revenue (159.5 million euros) got here from fit operations, which have been helped final 12 months through the easing of restrictions in opposition to the coronavirus.
Player transfers introduced in 12.1 million euros, whilst merchandizing introduced in some other 93.6 million.
Wages had been the most important expense at 324.1 million for all workforce, together with gamers, group officers and different membership staff, whilst running prices had been at 169.8 million euros.
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