Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has defended the club against continued criticism over the recent visit to Saudi Arabia by insisting other countries -- including the United States -- have a record of violated human rights.
Bayern had come under heavy pressure from German politicians, their own fans and parts of the media for visiting Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal in Riad earlier this month despite international outrage over recent events in the Gulf state, including the planned flogging of blogger Raif Badawi.
In a written statement last week, Rummenigge had stressed that the club "condemns all forms of cruel punishment that are not consistent with human rights" and admitted "it would have been better to clearly address this on the occasion of our match in Saudi Arabia."
However, the row continued when Bayern reacted to criticism from FIFA Executive Committee member Dr. Theo Zwanziger by publishing an anonymous article on their official website entitled: "Does the Doctor need a doctor?"
Rummenigge remained on the offensive during the "Players, fighters, legends: Jews in German football and at FC Bayern" exhibition, which opened on Monday on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Bayern had honoured their Jewish honorary president Kurt Landauer, who spent time at the Dachau concentration camp, at the event, but local paper tz reported that Rummenigge was again asked about the visit to Saudi Arabia, where Israelis, along with those who have visited Israel, may be denied entry.
The paper reported that Rummenigge replied: "In the future we will certainly check everything, but I have read at Amnesty International that there are 112 countries in the world which violate human rights, among others an ally, someone we believe is a friend -- the United States.
"I can only say the words 'Guantanamo' or 'death penalty.' The question is: In the future, where are you allowed to travel and where are you not?"
Rummenigge's comments were also picked up by Germany's biggest tabloid, Bild, which headlined it coverage: "Bayern chief compares Saudis with the United States."
The paper added that Rummenigge did not rule out future trips to Saudi Arabia, saying "I am not a friend of boycotts."