Bayern Munich CEO rejects €5M donation proposal for rival 1860 Munich

Munich – Would FC Bayern actually help its city rival with a million-euro sum? At a talk hosted by the "Press Club Munich," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen (58) was confronted with a curious proposal on Tuesday. The executive was asked whether he could imagine a donation of five million euros from the German record champions to the financially struggling TSV 1860 Munich.

Dreesen appeared somewhat pained after the question and paused for a long time before responding:

"That is a very complicated question. I truly wish for 1860 Munich to get back on their feet. I am also optimistic that they will manage it – especially because they have incredibly loyal fans who have shown tremendous endurance for decades."

Bayern Boss Rules Out Donation for 1860

However, Bayern's board chairman rejected the donation idea outright:

"I view the somewhat unorthodox proposal more critically because there is still a lived antipathy among members and fans towards us. I don't believe our members, or at least parts of our members, would vote positively on that. So I see rather little chance for the transfer."

The background to the donation question is the financial emergency facing the Sechziger. After the escalation of the ongoing conflict between the registered club and investor Hasan Ismaik (48), the professional team was forcibly relegated from the 3rd to the 4th league due to unmet financial requirements. The football company has since filed for insolvency. Following the termination of cooperation with Ismaik, the club is now making a complete restart in the Regionalliga Bayern with a new game operations GmbH – but that still requires substantial funding.

No Money and No Rescue Game for Sechzig

There will be no money from Bayern, who in the past – primarily on the initiative of honorary president Uli Hoeneß (74) – repeatedly organized rescue games (for St. Pauli, Union Berlin, Darmstadt, Aachen, Rostock, Dresden, Offenbach, and Kaiserslautern). Dreesen justifies this decision not only with the usual rivalry between the two Munich clubs but also with recent hostilities from 1860 fans.

In the past, there have been repeated graffiti incidents around the Bayern grounds. At the record champions' championship party at Munich's Marienplatz in May, supporters of the Sechziger smuggled a banner reading "FC Bayern Hurensöhne" (FC Bayern sons of bitches) among the fans of the big rival, who unrolled the insulting banner without knowing its inscription.

This insulting banner was smuggled by 1860 fans onto FC Bayern's championship celebration in May. Photo: FCB

Dreesen explained when asked that such hostilities make a relief effort even more difficult:

"Without the banner, it would be easier, of course."

He added: "I can laugh about it. It would be something if our fans could get back at them. But that won't happen. So I certainly won't experience that."

This remark served as a small dig from the Bayern boss, as 1860 (German champions in 1966) is currently light-years away from winning the Bundesliga and a subsequent championship celebration where Bayern could get revenge.

Dreesen Feels No Schadenfreude

Interestingly, Dreesen assured that he feels no schadenfreude regarding the city rival's misery:

"No, there is no schadenfreude. That's not in the category we think in at FC Bayern, and I personally don't think that way at all. Quite the opposite: When a football club goes into insolvency or runs into economic turbulence, that's not good for football."

Dreesen continued regarding 1860's downfall:

"That's not good for the Munich location. That's why our good wishes go out to the Sechziger to manage it."