Tuchel slams Bayern fans over protest

MUNICH – Bayern Munich fans expressed dissent with the club leadership during the team’s 3-0 Bundesliga victory over Freiburg with a banner, drawing a sharp reaction from coach Thomas Tuchel.

“No place for bad lots at the club – neither on the pitch nor on the board,” the banner at Sunday’s game read.

The statement appeared to be directed at defender Jerome Boateng and football official Max Eberl.

Bayern had considered signing free agent Boateng last week as he trained with them, but eventually decided against it.

Fans and rights groups had protested because Boateng, who played at Bayern 2011-2021, faces another court case in charges of assaulting his then partner and mother of his children on holiday in 2018. A previous verdict against Boateng was overturned.

Eberl has been rumoured to get a top job in management after RB Leipzig recently parted ways with him, citing lack of commitment.

Speaking post-match, Tuchel expressed “little understanding” for the protest, which was “close to insulting” and “anonymous and striking”.

Tuchel had earlier said that Boateng’s legal issues had been a reason why Bayern didn’t sign him.

Bayern president Herbert Hainer said it was up to “interpretation” whether the banner was directed at Boateng and Eberl.

“I can’t comment on it. But it is clear in general that we have values at Bayern – and we follow those,” he said. “At the end of the day we decided not to sign Jerome Boateng. And with that the case is closed for me.”