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Sports
Uli Hoeneß criticized Lennart Karl's pink outfit at a Champions League match and plans a personal talk with the 18-year-old.
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß has announced he will take young star Lennart Karl aside for a conversation after the teenager wore a flamboyant pink outfit to a Champions League match. The 74-year-old club legend made the comments during an interview with DAZN, expressing displeasure with the player's public image.
Karl, sidelined by injury for the 4-3 quarter-final second-leg win over Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena, attended the match in a pink suit, pink jacket, a pink "Smurf" hat, and matching shoes. His appearance drew immediate attention and criticism from Hoeneß.
"You don't exactly have to show up online in a pink suit," Hoeneß told DAZN. "We saw the same thing with Bastian Schweinsteiger when he painted his fingernails black. Franz Beckenbauer and I intervened then too."
Hoeneß emphasized that while Bayern Munich has excelled on the pitch this season, the club's public image also matters. He stated that Karl's outfit did not meet that standard, adding: "I'll take Lennart aside at some point, when I see him, and tell him what's important in life and what isn't."
When reminded that teammate Michael Olise often arrives at French national team matches in highly eye-catching attire, Hoeneß drew a distinction. "Yes, but he's already a global star, so he can get away with it," Hoeneß said. "The media drive that kind of thing, of course, and his new girlfriend will naturally be interested as well."
However, Hoeneß insisted that a pink suit is "never sensible." He added: "He needs to realise that he has to win people over through football. He has to inspire people on the pitch. And if he then perhaps drives a flashy car or something similar, that's a different matter. But you don't have to be doing that at 18."
Hoeneß said it is Bayern's responsibility to step in. He is "convinced" that head coach Vincent Kompany has already addressed the issue with Karl. "Ultimately, he will be judged by what he shows on the pitch," Hoeneß concluded. "But if, after four or five years, he's a regular for the national team and fans say, 'I come to the stadium for him too', then maybe he can let his hair down at Carnival and dig out that costume for one last appearance."
Lennart Karl's pink outfit also failed to impress former Germany captain Michael Ballack, who serves as Karl's agent. "The fact that he's jumping around at all is already too much. But let's put it down to his euphoria and youthfulness," Ballack told DAZN. "He'll get an earful in the dressing room, I'm sure of that." Ballack added that he would "definitely" send Karl a personal message.
Teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic offered a more relaxed view. "You know the lad. He wants to stand out," the midfielder said. "You saw that again today. Let him get on with it."
