FC Bayern is a club that is very proud of its Jewish past. At the same time, the club has business relationships with the emirate of Qatar through a sponsorship agreement with the state-owned company Qatar Airways. Members see a contradiction in this – among other things, this is what a motion for the annual general meeting in the coming week is about, which aims not to renew the contract. A phone call with Josef Schuster, 67, the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
SZ: Mr. Schuster, do you know the application “End of Qatar sponsorship at FC Bayern”?
Josef Schuster: I live in Bavaria, but in northern Bavaria, in Würzburg. You are not always informed down to the last detail about all things that affect FC Bayern. But I would say that I have some sympathy for Bayern. I found out about the application and looked at it. He’s online.
What is your opinion?
What made me particularly happy: that he comes from the middle of the organized fan scene. The term ultra, for example, unfortunately still has a somewhat negative connotation among the general public, with a very radical fan culture. But when I see that the fans of FCB refer to the former Jewish President Kurt Landauer, that’s something very gratifying.
The initiator himself, the trainee lawyer Michael Ott, does not call himself ultra.
But at least the motion probably also contributed to the fact that a large banner could be read in the stadium with clear content pointing in the same direction.
Such critical banners as the one mentioned, which showed CEO Oliver Kahn, President Herbert Hainer and the slogan “We wash everything clean for money”, have been in the FC Bayern fan curve for many years.
I have now consciously perceived it in this context for the first time.
In the justification for the application, in the chapter on the allegations against Qatar, it says, “Kurt Landauer would turn in his grave”. Do you share this view?
That is a statement that I subscribe to. And I agree with the content of the proposal. The idea of letting an agreement on Qatar Airways’ engagement expire upon conclusion of the contract is correct.
How do you rate FC Bayern’s business relationships with Qatar?
I see them critically. I believe that the purely financial considerations were simply in the foreground here. I have the feeling that those in charge at FC Bayern weren’t sure what the contractual partner’s side was responsible for.
What do you mean exactly?
The criticisms of Qatar go in two directions: on the one hand, terrorist organizations such as Hamas are financially supported by Qatar, and Iran is also supported, which has made it its mission to destroy Israel. And on the other hand, according to many media reports on the occasion of the 2022 World Cup, the working conditions on the construction sites are at least questionable.
Your first point of criticism could be countered by the fact that Qatar’s support for Hamas in Gaza is at least tolerated by Israel.
It is true that Israel, Qatar and the UN recently agreed to pay ten million euros for humanitarian aid in Gaza. According to media reports, however, Qatar has paid Hamas almost two billion euros since 2012. And let me put it this way: A rocket attack on Israel lasting several days does not finance itself.
In addition to your second point of criticism, the questionable working conditions, human rights organizations also cite the discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community. Back to FC Bayern: How do you rate it that the club is on the one hand committed against homophobia, for example – and at the same time promotes Qatar?
I see that as extremely problematic, although I take the seriousness of the efforts mentioned, which we hear and see over and over, from FC Bayern. However, I believe that in the specific case of Qatar, the banknotes were so attractive for those responsible that they did not pay enough attention to the other at the time.
The former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has recently openly admitted that there is “good money” for the partnership; there is talk of around 20 million euros annually. However, the club has defended itself in the past by saying that in 2018 Angela Merkel asked medium-sized companies to enter into business relationships with Qatar – and that the club was conducting a confidential dialogue with its partners on social issues. Do you think that is a logical argument?
No, that is in no way logical, you cannot compare that with the commitment of a medium-sized company, this is purely about an advertising campaign for a state airline. And I have serious doubts that the FC Bayern dialogue will in any way help improve the human rights situation in Qatar.
What kind of outcome would you like to see in the debate?
I would like FC Bayern to listen to their fans and fulfill the contract with Qatar Airways, but not renew it, but let it expire.
And when it comes to next year’s World Cup, what do you want from the DFB?
Boycotting a single team is of no use; that would only make sense if it were broadly the case. But I would like to see a clearly critical attitude, possibly also on site.