MUNICH: German champions Bayern Munich have revealed a record surplus of €23.8m after tax on turnover of €411.5m

Deputy ceo Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “Bayern stands today as outstanding on both sporting and economic grounds. Our growing financial strength allows a priority of making the investments essential in the professional squad, to continue to be competitive among the European elite.”

Football chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “We are experiencing the best time in the history of FC Bayern.”

Bayern also defended old icon Franz Beckenbauer from criticism over his role in the scandal concerning Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid.

Bayern president Karl Hopfner told the meeting that it had Beckenbauer to thank for a “hell of a lot” as player, coach and president, and that the club wouldn’t have its new stadium without the 2006 World Cup.

“Beckenbauer is rightly our honorary president – and so will it stay,” said Hopfner, who suggested Beckenbauer was being “condemned without trial” in the wake of corruption allegations initially published by German weekly Der Spiegel.

Beckenbauer has denied any vote buying.

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