Bayern Munich: weighing up pressure from fans, politicians and human rights groups not to travel to Qatar for another warm-PR winter training break - then arriving in Doha with an answer: “A training camp is not a political statement. • Last year’s winter break highlight: a €2m stopover in Saudi Arabia while their hosts flogged and jailed blogger Raif Badawi. Bayern issued a statement days later: “Everyone, ourselves included, bears responsibility for compliance with human rights … Human rights are an integral value … [But] we are a football club, not political policy-makers. Best insight Charlton chief executive Katrien Meire, opening up at an industry conference last month about “weird” fans who fail to “see themselves as customers … When I get ‘friendly’ emails from fans they say get out of ‘our’ club. Not the shareholders’ club. It’s quite funny … when they go to restaurants and the cinema and are not satisfied with the product do they scream to the people in charge of it? No they don’t, but they do it with the football club and that’s very weird. They feel this sense of ownership.” • Honduras official Alfredo Hawit, who took over Concacaf in May pledging to save it from fraud, appearing in court to deny 12 counts of fraud, racketeering, money laundering and “conspiracy to tamper with witnesses”. Ashley – chastened by Newcastle fans unfurling a #SportsDirectShame banner to protest against his firm using poverty wages to fund bulk discounts – offering fans a free overstocked jacket from Sports Direct “worth £59.99 each”. (Yes, we've made it at last) • Diego’s previous best review: 2009 – Uruguayan model Natalia Rosas, reminiscing while posing for a photoshoot with the letter “M” sprayed on a buttock. “He said he was nervous, so I clasped his hands to my chest and we embraced. This time he stole a kiss. It left me with a taste of onions, but no matter. This continued, then suddenly I heard a loud noise. I thought it was the chair creaking. But no. Diego had broken wind. He became yet more nervous, but never begged my pardon… It didn’t matter though. He is a romantic, a deep thinker. Oh, what a night!” Credit where credit is due, to the Gruniard
Was it Newcastle fans though. I understood it was part of the Unite Union campaign for better working conditions. The banners were at a few places last week.
Think it was probably the Union as after the match there were numerous Union people outside trying to get fans to sign a petition against Sports Direct working terms.
