Bayern's Rummenigge won't dramatise additional strain through CWC

Former Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed the new-look Club World Cup and said that the players' high salaries are one reason why clubs have to participate in such events.

Rummenigge told Monday's edition of Kicker sports magazine that he doesn't want to "dramatise" the additional burden for players at the event held recently in the United States.

"As a player I would have been happy to take part in such a tournament. Of course the Club World Cup means more games in that season but you must also say: This tournament is only every four years," the Bayern board member said.

"And many players – together with their advisors – have contributed to this situation. They are demanding ever higher salaries, forcing clubs to tap into additional sources of income. That's why new formats are emerging.

"On the other hand, I see little willingness to take a pay cut. That's a contradiction that needs to be clearly addressed."

The Club World Cup offered an overall prize money of around $1 billion. Bayern reached the quarter-finals of the 32-team event won by England's Chelsea, which replaced the Confederations Cup for national teams which was in the past held every four years.

Rummenigge said that the Club World Cup was good for Bayern's visibility abroad and that shirt sales rose seven-fold in the US. He also spoke of good TV ratings in Germany despite plenty of criticism in the run-up.

"Many of our national team players would otherwise have played in the Confed Cup in the USA – without any added value for the club," he said.

"Now FC Bayern has been able to showcase itself on the world stage, gain new fans and also benefit financially. It pays to think outside the box from time to time.

"I really enjoyed the competition and watched almost all of the matches," Rummenigge said.