Herbert Hainer gives statement condemning Bayern Ultras’ protest of Dietmar Hopp

Just under twenty four hours after Bayern Munich’s 6-0 thrashing of Hoffenheim was overshadowed by protests from the Bayern fans aimed towards Dietmar Hopp, Herbert Hainer has given an official statement on the incident. Club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has already vehemently condemned the actions of Bayern’s fans and voiced his disgust at the incident, referring to the occasion as “a dark day in football.”

In Hainer’s statement, he referred to the protests as “an absolute low point” from Bayern’s fans (FCBayern):

All of us at FC Bayern are still stunned by yesterday’s incidents in Hoffenheim. We are ashamed of the behaviour of a few so-called “fans” in the FC Bayern terrace and seating area during the game. Dietmar Hopp was insulted in the worst imaginable way by a few idiots with a banner. He was defamed, from a distance, anonymously, namelessly, and in a cowardly way. The events of yesterday were an absolute low point. On behalf of the entire club, I would like to apologise once again to Dietmar Hopp for this!

The protests of Hopp have been prevalent in the Bundesliga prior to Bayern’s win at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena and have continued in today’s match between Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg, causing a pause to that match before the halftime break occurred. While fans may have every right to protest things they’re unhappy with, Hainer said that the overwhelming majority of Bayern’s fans disagree with the nature of yesterday’s protests towards Hopp:

Racism, exclusion, insults and discrimination of any kind and against anyone must stop now. This is also the opinion of the overwhelming majority of FC Bayern fans. They are expressing their incomprehension and indignation via all conceivable online platforms, on social media and in numerous emails to us. Our fans stand together, football stands together, against hate, against intolerance, against defamation. The impressive actions of the TSG Hoffenheim players and our team yesterday, when they returned to the pitch after play was suspended a second time and simply passed the ball to each other, has also been well received. It was a powerful signal. Football must stand for togetherness instead of division. Solidarity is the right sign against exclusion and hostility.

Moving forward, Hainer said that in the coming days, Bayern’s front office will be meeting with the appropriate parties to try and figure out how to prevent events like yesterday’s in the future:

In the next few days, the relevant bodies at FC Bayern Munich will meet and talk. We will examine all the options to prevent a repetition of events as undignified as those of yesterday in Hoffenheim. We will also use all the means at our disposal to take decisive action against those who have discredited FC Bayern and the whole of German football, and trampled on our values. We are aware of our responsibility for FC Bayern Munich. That is why it is crystal clear to us today: it cannot go on like this!