Max Eberl guest at Rollwagerl 93 e.V. | OneFootball

Right at the start, Max Eberl put on the scarf of the Rollwagerl 93 e.V. fan club – and kept it around his neck throughout his two-hour visit. The FC Bayern board member for sport had plenty of time; the players and officials of the German champions will be swarming out for the traditional fan club visits on 4 January, but the kick-off was brought forward for the special organisation of the inclusive fan club's celebration. Eberl gave insights into his work, talked about his first steps in the FC Bayern youth team in the early 1980s, and delighted the 150 attendee with his stamina during the autograph and selfie session. “You are role models for us, because you overcome barriers every day,” he made clear during the talk on the podium. “You show what is possible – you are an important part of our FC Bayern family!”

After visiting the Gästehaus St. Theresia in Munich, Rollwagerl chairman Kim Krämer, who moderated the discussion with Alexander Grundler (inclusion representative in the fan dialogue working group), summed up the event with satisfaction: “FC Bayern embodies key concepts in the area of inclusion, such as diversity, accessibility, self-determined participation, equal opportunities and togetherness – and that was clearly evident today during Max Eberl's visit. He had already taken a lot of time to talk to us at the annual general meeting. It was a great afternoon for us today.”

Eberl also gave an insight into his inner life by openly discussing difficult periods in his past. “Life isn't all sunshine and roses,” he said. “You have to take care of yourself – and I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give everyone a piece of advice: talk to each other! Don't be afraid to share your feelings and answer honestly when someone asks how you are. If someone is not doing well, you should give them a helping hand.” The room responded with long applause.

According to Eberl, inclusion at FC Bayern means “that every person – regardless of their circumstances – should be part of our football family. We want to break down barriers, including those in people's minds, and set an example for diversity in action.” A good example of this is the sign language developed with the deaf fan club ‘Red Deaf’ for the football and basketball players, as the club deliberately let the fans implement the project. They should shape FC Bayern and encourage others to be an active part of the community. “Initiatives like this create a connection,” said the board member for sport. “Football is for everyone: FC Bayern wants to demonstrate that sport brings people together – regardless of origin, gender, disability or social background. Inclusion makes sport more colourful, fairer and stronger.”

Against this backdrop, FC Bayern also illuminated its Allianz Arena in purple on 3 December, as it does every year, to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Allianz Arena offers 324 wheelchair spaces and is constantly being optimised with regards to inclusion. Rollwagerl 93 e.V. celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023 – president Herbert Hainer attended the celebration – and, with almost 900 members from all over the world, is one of the largest fan clubs with an inclusive background. During home games at the Allianz Arena, the ‘Rollwagerl SHOP’ is the central point of contact for people with disabilities. At the end of his visit, Eberl, who also signed autographs on wheelchair wheels, presented a Champions League jersey signed by the team, which was auctioned off for charity.

The traditional FC Bayern fan club visits around Christmas time will proudly take place for the 40th year in 2025. This year, decision-makers and players will once again travel to 29 events throughout Germany, Austria and Italy/South Tyrol to highlight the club's accessibility. In total, the German record champions have 4,500 fan clubs worldwide with 330,000 registered fan club members. Over the years, Rollwagerl 93 e.V. has been visited by, among others, long-time CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, legendary coaches such as Jupp Heynckes and Ottmar Hitzfeld, as well as Manuel Neuer, Lothar Matthäus, Mehmet Scholl and Owen Hargreaves.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities