Bayern chief Uli Hoeness' tax case could dent reputation

Posted Monday, April 22, 2013 by The Sun

PRESIDENT Uli Hoeness’ tax nightmare threatens to drag Bayern Munich’s name through the mud.

Above all it has left the German giants shell-shocked 24 hours before they face Barcelona.

Boss Jupp Heynckes’ men go into their Champions League semi with Hoeness facing an investigation for tax evasion.

Reports this weekend suggested the Euro ’72 and World Cup ’74 winner has held undeclared funds in Swiss bank accounts.

Will the Bayern leader’s plight affect the German super-team against Leo Messi and Co?

Hoeness is responsible — along with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge — for turning the club into a hugely profitable organisation with a social conscience over the past three decades.

Arsenal’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis openly expresses his admiration for Hoeness’ business acumen.

Many of you hailed Hoeness after he gave me an interview explaining the Bavarian giant’s philosophy just before their second leg against Arsenal in March.

Now, if allegations prove true, the club Germans have labelled FC Hollywood face an unprecedented crisis that could have serious implications on the image of the Bundesliga as a whole.

His possible demise would “rip the soul out of Bayern” as Germany’s biggest newspaper Bild screamed yesterday.

Hoeness, 61, is the most influential figure in German football and independently rich as he owns one of Germany’s biggest sausage firms.

The explosive story first appeared in Focus magazine, whose publisher is a member of Bayern’s advisory board of which Hoeness is the president.

Well-informed sources claimed last night it may have been an exercise in damage limitation.

It came to light that Hoeness’ house was raided by the police in late March.

Hoeness said: “I have submitted a voluntary disclosure in January 2013 according to my accountant at the tax office.”

He has reportedly already made a £5.3m down-payment to the German taxman and his voluntary disclosure means he will most likely get off with a large fine.

The chief of the German tax union, Thomas Eigenthaler, said: “Hoeness has at least 10million of undeclared income.”

Reports suggested the amount may be even higher.

Hoeness has been considered a “moral beacon” appearing in political talk shows arguing for clean politics and behaving with social responsibility.

In an interview in 2005 he said: “I know it’s stupid but I pay all my taxes.” These words could now come back to haunt him.

He has close links with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party and their Bavarian affiliate CSU — who argued in favour of a tax deal with Swiss authorities.

It would have given anonymity to those Germans who held secret accounts in Switzerland but made voluntary payments to the taxman. Because of fierce opposition the deal fell through.

Hoeness’ has always been the life and soul of Bayern’s first team, a hands-on leader.

If any of Bayern’s former players faced financial problems he’d always run to their help.

He spent entire nights talking to Germany’s Sebastian Deisler who was fighting depression.

He took Mehmet Scholl, Bayern’s former No 7, into his home when the former Germany ace went through divorce.

Bayern — at his insistence — have helped rival clubs like St Pauli or Borussia Dortmund or Dynamo Dresden financially over the years.

Honorary Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said: “I can only keep my fingers firmly crossed for Uli that it all turns out all right.”

General manager Mathias Sammer said: “This is a private matter. Uli Hoeness is a very important person for us. This doesn’t affect us at all.”

Bayern bid to complete a Treble over the next five weeks.

Their leader faces a much bigger battle though to preserve his unblemished reputation.

Mourinho clips Klopp

IT’S all kicked off between Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho — just like I told you last week.

Mourinho did not miss the chance to hit back at Klopp after the German mocked the Special One’s spying trip to see Borussia Dortmund’s 6-1 win at Greuther Furth.

The Real boss said on Friday: “The semi-final draw was the one where I was most tranquil without any nerves because I didn’t care who we got. Each one has their strengths and qualities, all of them were great rivals. So I was calm.

“Now I want to maintain the situation as it is.

“Since the draw Klopp talks every day and I’ve not opened my mouth.
“I said they are all difficult and good and that’s it.”

When Klopp was told Mourinho said he talks too much his response was instant and true.

The Borussia boss said: “Haha. My teacher said the same. I don’t care why he said it.

“I’m not intelligent enough to understand what the reason Mourinho said this but no problem. From now on I shut up and all is OK.”

Fat chance.

Cue tomorrow’s Press Conferences at Dortmund’s stadium. Mouthwatering.

Deep-thinking Mourinho also had a Special message for Madrid’s fans ahead of the semi-final.

He said: “Football cannot be compared with the social, economic or political problems. For me it comes a long way after those.

“But it is an incredible cultural and social phenomenon with a magical ability to do things that politicians cannot. To give a smile to the people. Emotions.

“Football has an inexplicable component which makes us players and managers, what we are not, because we are nothing special.

“I hope that if in any way we help that it will be Madrid fans who will have those joys and special motivations.”

Mourinho is a lot of things to a lot of people but he is wrong — he is Special.