Beckenbauer memorial service: Hoeneß on a clear statement about the AfD: “That was so important to me”

Uli Hoeneß does not regret his critical statement towards the AfD at the funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer. When he was writing the speech, he knew that he wanted to talk about the 2006 World Cup at home, “about the German fans who were proud, about the black, red and gold flags in the streets. Then I thought: Oops, that could be it “Someone got the idea that I was thinking in the direction of the AfD. Then I wrestled with myself for a long time about whether that was something that should be said at a memorial service,” said the 72-year-old in an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”: “But that was “It’s so important to me. So I said that. And you know what: I would say it again tomorrow.”

“Sport cannot remain silent when it comes to such fundamental issues”

At the memorial service in Munich’s Allianz Arena in honor of his deceased companion Beckenbauer in mid-January, Hoeneß said he would like to see the World Cup atmosphere back in Germany, but “I don’t want the AfD there.” There was spontaneous applause throughout the arena.

The honorary president of FC Bayern Munich is worried about the poll numbers for the AfD. “I wasn’t aware of this for a long time. But since the AfD has played an increasingly larger role, I’ve become more and more aware of it.” He also watches documentaries on news channels in the evenings, “every now and then about the Nazi era: about Auschwitz, about Birkenau. I’m always so upset and think to myself: Man Meier! If our country goes even remotely in that direction again – That must never be the case!”

In general, he is of the opinion that sport should “stay out of politics as much as possible”. “But sport cannot remain silent when it comes to such fundamental issues. That’s why I spoke,” said the former national player.