Hoeneß: Nations League is 'joke of the year' after 18 Bayern call-ups

📰 Uli Hoeneß blamed the international calendar for Bayern's draw at Augsburg and took direct aim at UEFA. 📌 Key points 🔥 Hoeneß called a two-week break four weeks into the season a 'disaster'. 🃏 He described the Nations League as 'the joke of the year'. ✈️ Bayern had 18 players away on international duty. 💶 He said clubs, not national teams, pay the players' wages. 🤝 He urged clubs to finally fight back. 📝 What happened 🎙️ Hoeneß spoke to Bild on the sidelines of the Bavarian Sports Award, where Vincent Kompany was honoured for his anti-racism work. 'I think it's a disaster on UEFA's part to schedule a two-week break just four weeks after the start of the season,' he said. ✈️ Bayern sent 18 players on international duty during the break. 'We had 18 players on the road, so it's completely normal that we're losing our rhythm,' Hoeneß said, defending the team after the 2-2 draw at Augsburg on 10 October. 🃏 'And all for a silly competition like the Nations League. That's the joke of the year!' he added. 'The clubs must finally fight back, because we pay the players, not their national teams.' 🌍 He also said Bayern were the biggest losers of the long World Cup summer, with players returning late. GOAL noted, however, that international windows are set by FIFA rather than UEFA. 📊 By the numbers • Bayern players called up: 18 • Length of the break: two weeks, four weeks into the season • Result at Augsburg: 2-2 • Hoeneß's age: 74 🔭 Why it matters The Bundesliga had never before paused this long mid-season for the Nations League. Bayern travel to Viking in Stavanger in the Champions League on 13 October and host RB Leipzig on 17 October. If the hangover continues, the club-versus-country row could grow.