CEO Oliver Kahn and President Herbert Hainer emphasize, however, that FC Bayern recommends the vaccination. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß speaks of a “tsunami” when it comes to reporting.
The club management of FC Bayern Munich does not want to put any public pressure on unvaccinated football professionals like national player Joshua Kimmich. CEO Oliver Kahn and President Herbert Hainen also emphasized the clear corona position of the German record champions on Monday evening in Munich. “First of all, it is important that we have a clear stance that we can only recommend it to everyone to vaccinate. We underlined this through several campaigns,” said Kahn before the premiere of a documentary series for the streaming service Amazon. “Ultimately, you have to respect that when one or the other has a different opinion,” added Kahn specifically to Kimmich. “It is very important – and it is our duty as a club – to constantly show awareness.”
Club president Hainer also once again emphasized the importance of a high vaccination rate for coping with the corona pandemic. “FC Bayern support the vaccination campaign sustainably. At the end of the day there is no compulsory vaccination. It is the decision of each individual, and you have to accept that,” said Hainer. “Joshua Kimmich said yes, maybe he will also be vaccinated. I would be happy.”
Bayern Honorary President Uli Hoeneß sees the media as the mainspring of the fierce vaccination debate about Kimmich. “You are responsible for the tsunami,” said the 69-year-old to reporters. Hoeneß did not want to comment that Kimmich, like some other Munich professionals, had not yet been vaccinated. “The only one I’m talking to in this context is Joshua himself,” said the former club president. But he has an opinion on it.
Former Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is not particularly surprised by the force of the public debate. “Corona has been following us for a year and a half now. I’m not surprised that it is now a big political issue,” said the 66-year-old: “You should still leave the church in the village.” Rummenigge promoted Kimmich and advocated not putting any pressure on the 26-year-old when it came to vaccinations. “If I know a player who was extremely responsible and exemplary in many things in life, it was always Joshua,” said Rummenigge. “In that case, I believe he will make the right decision at some point,” remarked Rummenigge, referring to a still possible corona vaccination for Kimmich.
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