by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Former Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has called for the introduction of a salary cap in response to rising player and agent demands.
"The only direction I see is higher, faster, further," the 69-year-old said ahead of Bayern's UEFA Champions League playoff first leg against Celtic.
The Bayern board member warned that football is speeding toward a financial wall, with "no one wanting to hit the brakes."
In an interview, the 1975 and 1976 Champions League winner said clubs are being forced to explore new competitions to generate revenue, pointing to the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the U.S. from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
"If things continue as they are, football will be the only business not making a profit but suffering losses," he said.
Rummenigge defended the revamped Club World Cup, calling it a necessary and exciting addition for fans. He criticized the previous format as "boring," arguing that the Champions League winner faced little real competition.
Both the new Club World Cup and the expanded Champions League format are adding to players' workloads, drawing complaints from players and coaches about the increasing number of matches.
Reports suggest Bayern could earn over €50 million from the new Club World Cup, which will feature 32 teams.
"That FIFA has prioritized a club competition over a potential national team event is another surprise," Rummenigge added.
While he admitted a salary cap is "unlikely" due to legal constraints, he dismissed the idea of a European Super League replacing the Champions League, calling it a non-starter.
Football has reached its financial ceiling, he argued, noting that while the German league secured a slight increase in TV revenue for the 2025-2029 cycle, it was "a miracle." The German Football League recently announced a new broadcast deal worth €4.84 billion, but Rummenigge said the TV market is saturated.
In recent days, both Rummenigge and former Bayern president Uli Hoeness have called for a more cautious salary policy. Hoeness stressed that even a financially stable club like Bayern "is no cash cow."
Rummenigge also urged players and agents to "stop complaining."
Additionally, he voiced support for the German Football Association's approval of Saudi Arabia's 2034 FIFA World Cup bid.
"Even if there are concerns, it's better to address them through dialogue rather than outright rejection," he said, adding that he personally called German FA president Bernd Neuendorf to endorse the decision.
"German football hasn't benefited from ignoring reality," he said. "We can't expect everyone around the world to follow our moral standards." ■
