Hoeness has DFB support

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) has said Uli Hoeness’ services to the game must not be forgotten, despite the Bayern Munich president being sentenced for tax evasion yesterday.

At the conclusion of a four-day trial in Munich, the 62-year-old was sentenced to a three-and-a-half year term for failing to declare €28 million in due taxes.

Wolfgang Niersbach told Munich’s Abendzeitung newspaper: “The whole dimension this case has taken on in the past few days even surprised us at the DFB.

“The great achievements of Uli Hoeness for Bayern Munich and for the whole of German football will not be affected by this process.

“The legal judgement in such a case must be taken by the courts and the same rules apply to Uli Hoeness as to anybody else.”

Hoeness’ sentence will only be legally binding at the end of the appeals process. His defence solicitor Hanns Feigen announced they would be making an appeal, meaning Hoeness remains a free man for the time being.