The prosecution in the Uli Hoeness tax evasion case will not appeal the three and a half year jail sentence handed to the former Bayern Munich President.
“In criminal procedure against Ulrich Hoeness because of tax evasion, the Munich II court will not lodge an appeal against the verdict of the regional court Munich II from 13.03.2014.”
Hoeness will begin his sentence in Landsberg prison in six weeks time.
Hoeness, who was sentenced to three and a half years in jail last week, confirmed he would not appeal his sentence. The prosecution was allegedly preparing an appeal, seeking a longer sentence of five and a half years.
Several members of the club have come out in support of Hoeness, including coach Pep Guardiola
“I’ve only been here nine months, but I’ve seen enough to realise that Uli is extremely important here,” Guardiola told Sky. “He’s made a mistake and he has admitted to it. I hope I can still be here when he comes back.”
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who has worked alongside Hoeness at Bayern for 23 years, paid tribute to the disgraced Hoeness.
“I wish him all the best,” he said. “Of course we are all very sad because we are partners who have shaped Bayern Munich together over many years. Uli Hoeness was a man who formed Bayern extremely positively over decades. Uli certainly has a great deal of the merit for the club being in the position they are in now.
“We’ve now got to try to ensure that the club remains stable. It’s not going to be simple because you can’t just replace a man like Uli.”
In a meeting on Friday, the FC Bayern advisory board nominated Karl Hopfner to replace Hoeness as the president of the club.
“I did not picture this,” he told kicker on Monday. “I am really doing this only for FC Bayern because I owe so much to the club. Here in this not easy situation one can’t say no.”
