June 29 – Following a persistent fan protest, German giants Bayern Munich have decided against renewing their sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways.
The club’s supporters have long railed and railed against the airline attaching their name to Bayern Munich in a lucrative $100 million sponsorship deal, but on Wednesday it was confirmed that Germany’s record champions will not renew their playing kit agreement which runs out at the end of the month after a five-year partnership.
“FC Bayern and Qatar Airways have worked together successfully and learned from each other,” said Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.
“I would like to thank Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, for this. We wish all Employees of Qatar Airways all the best for the future.”
The state-backed airline had been a partner of the German giants since 2018 but supporters raised concerns over Qatar’s human rights record which came into sharp focus in the years leading up to the Gulf nation’s staging of the 2022 World Cup. Bayern also regularly staged winter camps at Doha’s Aspire complex.
Bayern supporters responded by displaying anti-Qatar and anti-sports washing banners and slogans during protests at home matches at the Allianz Arena.
In November 2021, Bayern’s AGM descended into chaos amid a heated row between fans and the board over the deal with Qatar Airways At the meeting, 77.8% of members voted in favour of a move to end Bayern’s association with the airline, but the board rejected the vote, causing a rift with supporters chanting ‘We are Bayern, you are not’.
But now Bayern have bowed to pressure from the fans, even if it was reported that Qatar Airways did not want to extend the partnership.
German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote that Qatar no longer wanted to be associated with the German club after Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s discontent with the criticism from Bayern fans.
Germany, including five Bayern players, were also the least popular national team during the World Cup after they held their hands over their mouths in a protest directed at the host nation. German interior minister Nancy Faeser also criticised the host nation, prompting fury among Qataris.
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