Bayern Munich ends partnership with Qatar Airways

Partnership ends after five years.

Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich has announced that they will be mutually ending their partnership with Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways and Bayern Munich have been partners since 2018 and the current contract ends on 30 June, 2023 and both parties will not be renewing it.

Qatar Airways has been a sleeve sponsor of the German club, joining the team in February 2018. Since then, Qatar Airways also joined as a Platinum Partner of the club and Bayern has even regularly trained in Doha in the winters. 

The partnership has been facing a lot of criticism from the Bayern fans, who have been vocal about their displeasure given the club is sponsored by a country which faces a lot of allegations with regards to human rights violations, including LGBTQ rights and also the way migrant workers are treated. 

Jan-Christian Dreesen, Chairman of the Board of FC Bayern München, commented,

“FC Bayern and Qatar Airways have worked together successfully and learned from each other. I would like to thank Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, for this. We wish all employees of Qatar Airways all the best for the future.”

Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO Qatar Airways, said,

“Qatar Airways and FC Bayern Munich have had a fruitful partnership for years. FC Bayern is a great football club whose games we have followed with joy and passion. We wish the team all the best for the future.”