FIFA bans Bayern Munich players from giving interviews

After Munich’s crushing victory over Auckland City, a curious incident unfolded during the post-match interviews.

Details: In the opening round of the FIFA Club World Cup, Bayern Munich put on a show against the modest Auckland City side, routing them with an emphatic 10-0 win.

But it wasn’t just the scoreline that made headlines that evening. Ahead of the post-match interviews, FIFA officials unexpectedly confiscated the accreditation passes of several Bayern players.

At first glance, it looked like a brewing scandal, but the reality was far more mundane: according to Bild, sharp-eyed viewers noticed a clearly visible QR code on the sleeves of the Bayern kit during interviews. These codes serve as passes, granting players access to various stadium zones—VIP boxes, locker rooms, and restricted areas. If photographed clearly, these codes could potentially be exploited by unauthorized individuals to gain access to the stadium’s infrastructure.

Fans didn’t leave completely empty-handed—Thomas Müller managed to make it to the press area, but the rest of the squad was barred from speaking to the media.

In response to the incident, FIFA quickly rolled out a new rule: no QR codes are to be publicly visible at any time, a restriction that now applies to both players and journalists.

Recall: Bayern set a new Club World Cup record