Countries labeled as adversaries by Michael Ott in football context
In the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bayern Munich, the club's partnership with Emirates is set to be a hot topic of discussion. This sponsorship, while financially attractive, has been met with criticism due to concerns over human rights issues linked to the United Arab Emirates, similar to the backlash faced by the previous sponsorship with Qatar Airways [1][3][5].
Herbert Hainer, who is seeking re-election as president in the AGM, has always defended these contracts, which are a crucial point for personal evaluation during his re-election [6]. However, Michael Ott, an attorney leading protests against the Qatar sponsorship, has expressed disappointment that Bayern is "repeating past mistakes" by partnering with Emirates [3].
The agreement with Emirates is at a secondary sponsorship tier, worth around €5 million per year, much less than the main shirt sponsorship by Deutsche Telekom, worth approximately €65 million per season [1][2][5]. Unlike the Qatar Airways deal, Bayern's Emirates partnership does not include flight services for domestic matches, possibly avoiding direct operational ties within Germany [5].
The criticism is less about Emirates as a brand, which sponsors multiple major clubs without significant backlash, and more about Bayern's perceived inconsistency after cutting ties with Qatar Airways due to ethical concerns but continuing with another Middle Eastern state-owned airline under similar scrutiny [1][3][5].
Some within the club's leadership have been accused of making sponsorship decisions incompatible with the values of the club. The speaker at the AGM is expected to consider another attempt to prevent such sponsorships, believing that states like the UAE undermine Financial Fair Play and distort competition in football [4].
It is worth noting that a proposal to prevent sponsorships like Qatar Airways was submitted at the 2021 AGM but was not passed [7]. The prevailing legal opinion agrees that the proposal, as submitted, was permissible [4].
In summary, the criticism focuses on the ethical implications and perceived double standards in sponsorship decisions by Bayern Munich, despite the financial attractiveness of Emirates' backing and its widespread presence in European football. The upcoming AGM promises to be a pivotal moment in the club's stance on ethical sponsorships.
Football's ethical standards are under scrutiny in the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bayern Munich, with the club's partnership with Emirates in the business sphere becoming a contentious issue. Michael Ott, leading protests against the Qatar sponsorship, believes that Bayern is repeating past mistakes by partnering with Emirates in sports, expressing disappointment that the club is not adhering to its own values.
