Free Republic

Bayern Munich defeated Hertha Berlin 3-1 to become the earliest Bundesliga champion in 51 years of the league Tuesday, when the defending champion claimed its 24th German title. The result ensures Pep Guardiola’s side wraps up the title with seven games to spare in the Spaniard’s first season as coach, beating the mark set in last year’s record-breaking campaign by one game. “Praise has to go to the coach and the team,” Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer said. “Pep Guardiola suits this team. He’s not only an expert, he’s also a fantastic guy.” It was Bayern’s 19th consecutive win, its...

A Bavarian town failed to distance themselves from Hitler in a vote last week. The Nazi leader was made an honorary citizen of the area in 1933 but half of the council voted against disassociating the town from him. On Tuesday the town of Dietramszell in Bavaria was supposed to distance itself from Hitler and other leading Nazis in a motion put forward by mayor Leni Gröbmaier. The move came after archivist Agnes Wagner found Hitler had been made an honorary citizen in March 1933, the Münchener Merkur newspaper reported. Nearby Münsing carried out a similar vote a few days...

Bayern reject criticism of friendly in Iran Thu 12 Jan, 2:24 PM BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayern Munich sporting director Uli Hoeness rejected criticism directed at his club on Thursday for their decision to play a friendly in Iran on Friday against Persepolis Tehran. The Bundesliga champions scheduled the match in Tehran, a short journey from their training camp in Dubai, after a friendly against a local club in Dubai was called off because of the death of ruler Sheikh Maktoum Al-Maktoum. "Communication is important, not confrontation," Hoeness was quoted by German news agency SID telling reporters in Dubai in response...