23-02-2025
Hoeness says he would take action if Bayern players promote AfD party
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has said that he would take action if any player of the club would promote the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Hoeness told Kicker sports magazine in an interview published on Sunday and coinciding with the general election in the country that he would "talk to him and ask whether he was right in his head."
However, the former club president added that he wouldn't "impose" his opinion on the whole club.
The anti-immigration AfD is projected to garner around 20% of the vote which would be the best result for a far-right party in Germany's post-Nazi history.
Hoeness already made his position last year at the funeral service for club icon Franz Beckenbauer and called for projects that combat racism.
He reiterated this stance, saying "I believe it is wise to organize very successful initiatives such as 'Red against Racism'" with red referring to a club colour.
"But we are not making the mistake of overburdening the players. They have to act out of their own conviction," he added.
Hoeness named Bayern "a wonderful role model for migration and integration. More than 50% of our young people have a migration background."
Hoeness said he will follow the election outcome, with first projections to follow immediately after the polls close during the first half of Bayern's Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
