The Boateng controversy sparked unrest among Bayern fans

By Martin Graham

Bayern Munich and head coach Vincent Kompany have attracted widespread reward for his or her excellent opening to the marketing campaign. The German champions have secured victories in all 11 of their fixtures throughout each competitors to date. Matchday seven of the Bundesliga held specific significance, as Bayern hosted long-time rivals Borussia Dortmund on the Allianz Area.

Kompany’s facet prevailed in Der Klassiker, additional strengthening their spectacular begin to the season. Nonetheless, the event was not solely in regards to the soccer — supporters used the high-profile match to precise their discontent over a controversial matter related to the membership.

Followers protest over Boateng’s teaching plans

Former Bayern and Germany defender Jérôme Boateng not too long ago declared his retirement from skilled soccer. Within the weeks main as much as that announcement, he had been seen coaching at Sabener Strasse. The ex-international now intends to pursue a training path. Kompany beforehand acknowledged that Boateng may full an internship with the group, citing his prolonged affiliation with Bayern.

This stance has not been nicely obtained by the supporters. Boateng was discovered responsible of home violence in opposition to his ex-girlfriend and, final yr, obtained a suspended superb and warning from the Munich district courtroom for premeditated bodily hurt. Many followers are firmly against the thought of the membership sustaining any relationship with him.

A petition was launched to problem the plan for Boateng’s internship, and based on Sky Information, it had gathered 2,200 signatures by Friday.

Message from the stands and Kompany’s response

Throughout Der Klassiker, the Sudkurve displayed a outstanding banner that learn: “Whoever provides the perpetrator house bears the guilt.” Boateng had beforehand acknowledged that Kompany had already agreed to the internship, although no date had been set. Bayern declined to challenge an announcement relating to the protests that passed off throughout the match.

This isn’t the primary time followers have expressed opposition. Two years earlier, when the membership thought-about re-signing Boateng underneath Thomas Tuchel, supporters voiced comparable issues.

Within the post-match press convention, Kompany was questioned in regards to the state of affairs. He didn’t handle the protest immediately, as a substitute explaining that Boateng would merely observe three coaching periods and downplayed the matter as insignificant.

For a lot of supporters, nonetheless, the difficulty displays poorly on the membership’s values. They imagine Bayern ought to have severed ties with Boateng way back and are ready to proceed their protests if the membership follows by with the internship plan.