Since November 2013, the trial against Bayern president Uli Hoeness, embroiled in a case of tax fraud, has been anticipated. It commenced on Monday in the Bavarian capital and is expected to span four days.
Hoeness stands accused of failing to declare significant income derived from stock market transactions in the 2000s, facilitated through an account in Switzerland. The German press estimates the damage to the German tax authorities at 3.5 million euros. Hoeness initiated a self-disclosure procedure in January 2013, which the Munich public prosecutor’s office deemed invalid. It is speculated that his action was prompted by fears of imminent exposure by the press, which had begun investigating the Swiss account of an influential, unnamed German football official at the time.
The outcome of the trial hinges on the admissibility of Hoeness’s self-disclosure. If deemed acceptable, he may face only a fine, but if judged belated, he could potentially face up to 10 years in prison. The trial is slated to span four days, with Hoeness required to attend.
Prior to the scandal, Uli Hoeness, aged 62 and a father of two, enjoyed a reputation as a moral authority in Germany. He led a seemingly modest life alongside his wife of 40 years and was a regular presence on German television, respected for his firm stances and political alignment with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives.
Despite the legal proceedings, Hoeness managed to retain his position at the helm of Bayern, supported by the club’s influential shareholders: Adidas, Audi, and Deutsche Telekom.
