An in-depth, open discussion on complex issues

A frank discussion, plenty of smiling faces in women’s football as a sign of satisfaction with the progress made, and a host of interesting projects in the pipeline. At the end of the first meeting of the year of the Fan Dialogue Working Group (AKFD), Michael Stefovic, speaking on behalf of the FC Bayern fan representatives, summed it up as follows: “Things are moving forward. Not everything has been sorted out, but things are moving forward – and that’s a good thing, isn’t it, to be able to say that.” Above all, the committee had engaged in intensive discussions on the subject of ticket allocation, particularly in relation to the DFB Cup final. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Markus Meindl (director of fan relations) took part in the discussion to explain the club’s position. “We always take our fans’ opinions seriously. We need mutual understanding, and I never tire of reiterating that it is our aim and our goal to find fair solutions for as many Bayern fans as possible,” Dreesen emphasised.

“I am very satisfied with this AKFD meeting. In a modern dialogue with fans, even difficult and complex issues must be addressed openly and discussed in a spirit of debate,” said Meindl, listing the following: “Fairness in ticket allocation for the 2026 DFB Cup final in Berlin, ticket prices, digitalisation in ticketing, the relationship between the fan community and long-standing members and fan club chairpersons, the political debate surrounding safety in German football stadiums, and stadium ban policies, to name but a few examples.” A club as large as FC Bayern, in particular, needs “an active, constructive and binding dialogue with all stakeholder groups and their representatives. And the right place for this dialogue is the AKFD,” said the director of fan relations.

During the meeting, under the agenda item “updates and information from fan and fan club liaison”, particular attention was paid to the workshop on the “OBACHT” awareness concept held at the FC Bayern Campus in April, which was attended by around 25 people. AKFD member Christian Schüfer outlined the findings. The possibility of translating the information texts at the club’s venues into other languages, as well as into sign language and Braille, is being examined, as is the introduction of an interpreting service for the Crisis and Intervention Team (KIT). Furthermore, greater involvement of the FC Bayern security teams through further training was suggested, and visibility is to be further increased through various measures. Furthermore, Schüfer and his AKFD colleague Frank Müller provided an update on the exchange with the German Football League’s (DFL) Club-Fan Dialogue Forum. A review of the AKFD information meeting on the progress of the Federal/State Open Working Group (BLoAG) “Football without Violence” was also on the agenda.

In the updates from the working groups, there were, among other things, significant improvements in women’s football regarding communication around ticket sales and fan support during away trips. At the same time, it was suggested that fans should be involved in the move to the Unterhaching Sportpark. In the area of inclusion, there are many topics on the agenda, reported Alexander Grundler, who is responsible for this area within the AKFD. Fortunately, the pilot project involving autograph cards for people with visual impairments has now been implemented.

Following the meeting of regional representatives, there was agreement between the AKFD members and FC Bayern that clear criteria must be applied when admitting new fan clubs, particularly regarding the allocation of tickets. Regarding senior fans’ concerns, a detailed statement criticised the behaviour of the club’s own Ultras. It was agreed to discuss these issues at a separate AKFD meeting, with the aim of fostering respectful coexistence among all Bayern fans. The focus should be on working together, not against one another. In the Kids and Teens section, it was suggested that the ‘Forever Number One’ memory box model for people suffering from dementia be adapted to other social issues and topics aimed at young people, such as bullying. Under the theme of Diversity, the focus was on the upcoming Christopher Street Day (CSD) on 27 June, at which FC Bayern will once again support its QUEERPASS Bayern fan club as part of its Red Against Racism initiative, as in previous years.

The next AKFD meeting, focusing on digital tickets, will take place during the summer break (early July) at the Paulaner Nockherberg.