What We're Reading
Bayern President Investigated for Tax Evasion
- ESPN FC, Monday, April 22, 2013 1:42 PM
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is “disappointed” in Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness after it was revealed that he is being investigated for tax
evasion. According to Focus magazine, Hoeness issued a voluntary disclosure about a Swiss bank account and said that prosecutors had searched his private home in March. News reports claim
that Hoeness has not paid tax on amount of around $13 million.
"A lot of people are disappointed by Uli Hoeness," Steffen Seibert, the government spokesperson, said on
Monday. "The Chancellor is among those people. And the disappointment is even bigger, given all the positive things he stands for."
The development has dominated German headlines over the
last few days, with news program "Tagesthemen" reporting that “the fall could not be more spectacular" for the “larger-than-life” Hoeness.
The Bayern President would face
prison if his voluntary disclosure is incomplete or was made at a time when he already knew about the ongoing investigation. Hoeness did not travel to Bayern’s 6-1 win against Hannover 96 over
the weekend, but is expected to be present when his team hosts the UEFA Champions League semifinal first-leg against FC Barcelona on Tuesday. In separate media reports, Hoeness said he would not be
stepping down from Bayern’s board or as its president and that he would “fight the excesses in the media with the help of my lawyers."
