Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness on Monday admitted to dodging millions of euros in taxes through an undeclared Swiss bank account at a trial that could see one of the most powerful figures in German soccer receive a lengthy prison sentence.
Prosecutor Achim von Engel told the Munich State Court that Hoeness evaded 3.5 million euros (US$4.9 million) in taxes by concealing 33 million euros of income in the Swiss bank account, the DPA news agency reported.
Hoeness reported himself to authorities early last year and the court will have to determine whether he did that because he had become aware there was an investigation against him or for other reasons, which will affect the sentence he receives. If found guilty, the Bayern president faces anything from a fine to 10 years in prison.
Photo: EPA
No pleas are entered in the German system, but as the trial opened, Hoeness, who also is part-owner of a Nuremberg sausage factory, said he had hoped to avoid the case going to court by reporting himself to the authorities.
“I evaded taxes,” he told the court. “I’m aware that reporting myself doesn’t change this fact.”
Hoeness’ lawyer, Hanns Feigen, volunteered that his client had evaded far more than charged, saying the total was 18.5 million euros.
Hoeness told the court he was glad that all the details were “transparently on the table.”
“I deeply regret my wrongdoing,” he added. “I will do everything necessary to ensure that this depressing chapter for me is closed.”
The Bayern boss said he used the Swiss bank account to trade stocks, conducting tens of thousands of transactions between 2001 and 2010, but added that he had also donated millions of euros to charities.
“I’m no social parasite,” Hoeness told the court.
Four days of hearings have been scheduled, with a verdict expected tomorrow.
German authorities have been cracking down on tax-evaders recently and their widely-publicized purchase of leaked account information on thousands of investors has led many to turn themselves in.
News of the case against Hoeness, one of the most prominent figures in German soccer, emerged last April, prompting German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman to weigh in and say the country’s leader was disappointed in him.
As a player, Hoeness was a Bayern star who won the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup with West Germany, and three straight European Cups before retiring in 1979 with knee problems.
Bayern have been enjoying unprecedented success under Hoeness’ presidency. His friend, former coach Jupp Heynckes, led them to Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup wins last season, a feat the club are favored to repeat under current coach Pep Guardiola.
Things are looking good off the field, too, with Bayern last month saying that insurer Allianz acquired a stake in the franchise, alongside sportswear firm Adidas and carmaker Audi, for 110 million euros.
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Arne Slot has denied that Darwin Nunez was dropped from Liverpool’s win against West Ham because of a training-ground row with a member of his coaching staff. The Liverpool head coach on Sunday last week said that Nunez was absent from the 2-1 victory at Anfield, having felt unwell during training the day before, although the striker sat behind the substitutes throughout the game. Speculation has been rife that the Uruguay international, whom Slot criticized for his work rate against Wolves and Aston Villa in February, was left out for disciplinary reasons. Asked on Friday to clarify the situation, Slot said: “He
RSS