by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bayern supervisory board member Uli Hoeness has called for German football to adhere to its strict financial regulations.

The 73-year-old 1974 World Champion said he was speechless in the light of the recent transfer activities in international football.

The former striker spoke of a crazy development, considering what he called unhealthy, excessive spending.

"That can't work out in the long run," the official said after receiving a "lifetime achievement award" from the national league association DFL. People think we are maniacs."

"Many would consider us crazy. They work for 2000 to 3000 euros a month and watch football clubs spend 30, 40, or 50 million euros on middle-class players."

German football is well advised to follow its own way and withstand the temptations of investments from Arab nations, US hedge funds, or oligarchs, he added.

Hoeness called the 50-plus-one rule a sense-making instrument for German football to keep its feet on the ground.

The rule requires clubs to hold a majority of shares and prevents foreign investors from taking over.

While the official demanded that German football remain strong and determined, he called the German record champion and six-time UEFA Champions League winner one of this season's outsiders.

"I am very much looking forward to this season's competition," he said. To be the outsiders, only a few count on, "is exactly our big chance."

Hoeness's complaints come after Bayern failed to sign the German internationals Florian Wirtz (LFC) and Nick Woltemade (Newcastle), and his orders to his club not to join the wild race, but to focus on developing young talents.

A reasonable financial policy has been a trademark for German football for decades, he said. Irresponsible investments don't trigger sustainable sporting success, he said.

The country's first flight experienced an unprecedented sell-out during the current transfer window as a large number of prominent players left, mainly for the English Premier League, setting a record in spending of over 3.5 billion euros.

Like Hoeness, Hans-Joachim Watzke, chairman of the DFL supervisory board and former Dortmund CEO, demanded to answer the spending with an increased talent development.

"German football has been the place for talent development for decades. It's our obligation to return to that status," the official added. ■