30.07.2026, 21:41 Uhr
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has given his explicit backing to the unified World Cup boycott threat issued by Europe's football associations, saying on Thursday a tournament without European nations would be worthless.
"I personally believe that Europeans don't yet realize how strong they actually are. A competition without Europeans can be thrown in the bin," Hoeness said on the sidelines of Bayern's pre-season friendly in Rottach-Egern.
The 55 members of UEFA had earlier Thursday demonstrated their unity and threatened a joint boycott if FIFA and president Gianni Infantino do not step back from their planned investor deal.
"We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors," UEFA said.
Hoeness said he could "live well" with the clear statement made by Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl, who had expressed disgust and said he was ashamed of FIFA's latest idea.
FIFA had said it wanted to raise billions by selling a portion of its commercial rights, including those related to the World Cup, and to pay out more money to all 211 member associations in future.
The 74-year-old Hoeness declined to comment in detail on Infantino. "I have a special, very strong opinion. But it is too early for me to make it known," said the Bayern patron. His opinion was "in any case" against Infantino, he confirmed when asked directly.
He also said it was too early to discuss possible successors to the FIFA presidency. Instead, Hoeness expressed hope that Europe's biggest associations could forge a kind of alliance and represent their shared interests within it.
Source: Dpa-international.com
