Bayern Munich announced on Wednesday that they have mutually ended their commercial partnership with the airline Qatar Airways, which has long been controversial due to accusations of human rights violations in the Gulf country.
“The contract between FC Bayern and Qatar Airways ends amicably after five exciting years together”, according to a press release from the two parties published on the German champion’s website. “Bayern Munich and Qatar Airways have worked together successfully and learned from each other,” said Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. The boss of the airline Akbar Al-Baker for his part wished “his best wishes for the future of the team”.
Former Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn, sacked at the end of May after a disappointing season at the club, had already warned several months ago that he wanted to reassess the partnership with this sponsor.
The Bavarian club was particularly the subject of growing criticism in Germany before the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022, while Doha was singled out for accusations of human rights violations.
In 2021, club supporters disrupted a general meeting of the club, loudly demanding an end to the collaboration with the company.
