Hoeness: Playoffs in the Bundesliga would be unfair

Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness is not pleased with the idea of introducing playoffs as a way to make the Bundesliga more competitive. Speaking to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Hoeness criticized the idea of playoffs, saying that it would “spoil the good work that FC Bayern does.” Have a look:

I simply think that the other clubs have to work better. At FC Bayern, we don’t have a special patron who gives us money. Or an heiress from America. We’ve worked for it here over forty years. Changing the rules of competition would therefore be totally unfair.

Just changing the rules, only because the others can’t keep up as easily and so they are competitive again? That won’t do.

Bayern Munich clinched their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title yesterday with a thumping 1-4 victory over Bavarian rivals FC Augsburg. It marks a period of unparalleled dominance in the German top flight, leading to concerns over the competitiveness of the league. As a result, a few months ago, former Bayer Leverkusen boss Wolfgang Holzhäuser proposed a playoff system for the Bundesliga top four. The idea would be to make the Bundesliga competitive again.

Hoeness outright rejects the idea that playoffs could work in the Bundesliga, and cites scheduling concerns, as well:

FC Bayern are now in the semifinals of the DFB Pokal and potentially in the semifinals of the Champions League. And sometime you’d have to start with the playoffs. Or let’s assume we reach the Champions League final; then we’d have to play in the playoffs in between. How is that supposed to work?

Fortunately for Hoeness, there are no serious plans to bring a playoffs style system into the Bundesliga. However, if things continue on the current path, and the other Bundesliga clubs fail to improve, what will Bayern do?