January 26 – A row has broken out between former German FA president Theo Zwanziger and Bayern Munich, after a Bayern blog on its official website accused Zwanziger of double standards over his criticism of the club for its friendly against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.
Speaking to SPORT1, Zwanziger said: “I am used to arguing with the Bavarians face-to-face – even with large differences of opinion, but I will not comment at this level on whoever is Säbener Sigi (the unnamed Bayern blogger).”
Zwanziger had criticised the club earlier in the week for playing in Saudi after the public flogging of blogger Raif Badawi : “I know commercial ethics has ruled at Bayern for some time and when in any doubt they always side with the money bag. It is a shame but it does not surprise me,” he said.
Bayern responded with their own blogger under the pseudonym ‘Säbener Sigi’, saying that when Zwanziger was head of the German federation he had repeatedly praised the club, quoting some of his comments. The blog also said that when Zwanziger was on the DFB board, the club had played in Saudi Arabia in 1998 but that never caused any problems.
“If Dr Theo Zwanziger has indeed forgotten what he once said (about Bayern) then we are seriously worried,” read the blog. “Does the Dr need a doctor?”.
“Dr Theo Zwanziger … is grateful to have used his chance at Bayern’s expense to hit the headlines.”
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