Bayern’s chief executive, Oliver Kahn, defended the German soccer club’s contentious sponsorship agreement with Qatar on Monday, saying he was sure their partnership had helped bring positive change to the oil-rich Persian Gulf state.

“I think very much has happened,” Kahn said at a panel discussion hosted by Bayern to answer its fans’ concerns over Qatar’s involvement in the club. “Because we’re sitting here today and discussing this very important topic.”

But pressed on what exactly had been achieved, Kahn was unable to give examples of any concrete action taken by the club or by Qatar at the club’s behest to improve working conditions for migrant workers in the country.

Kahn said Bayern had recently met with Qatari officials in London and that he spoke to them about diversity and tolerance.

“These are the discussions that are very, very important to me personally,” Kahn said. “I think that’s how we can move forward step by step.”

Bayern president Herbert Hainer agreed.

Another Bayern fan, Robin Feinauer, helped organize a public meeting in January 2020 titled “Qatar, human rights and FC Bayern” in Munich. It featured two migrant workers who spoke of their experiences working on stadium construction. Bayern was invited to that meeting at the time but didn’t send a representative.