“FC Bayern will no longer accept this manner (of reporting),” fumed Rummenigge, who even quoted a paragraph of the German constitution which says “human dignity shall be inviolable”.

“Obviously you no longer think about dignity and decorum anymore,” he told reporters.

“There seem to be no boundaries anymore, especially for the media and even ‘experts’ who have played at this club.”

Criticism of Bayern’s stars, particularly Bayern captain Manuel Neuer, who has struggled for form after twice fracturing his foot in 2017, has clearly irked the senior Bayern figures.

Rummenigge revealed Bayern have even taken legal action against several German media outlets.

Back-to-back league defeats against Hertha Berlin and Borussia Moenchengladbach have left Bayern sixth in the Bundesliga table – four points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund before Saturday’s match at Wolfsburg.

Bayern have won the past six German league titles – often by a huge points margin – meaning criticism of the club is a rare occurrence.

Rummenigge and Hoeneß certainly appear to be struggling to cope with the recent broadsides aimed at Bayern.

“We will not put up with this slanderous and degrading coverage,” said Rummenigge.

“We will protect our players, our coach and also the club from today.”

Hoeneß, Bayern’s president, continued by singling out individual journalists for fierce criticism, “we will not accept disrespectful, disgusting coverage”.

Bayern’s sports director Hasan Salihamidžić, who also attended the hastily-arranged press conference, fired back at criticism that he has not supported head coach Niko Kovač enough publicly.

“That was (disrespectful), it has never come into question that there is a problem with Niko,” fumed Salihamidžić.

“It’s not on to criticise the entire work of the club, I was outraged how unashamed and disrespectful the coverage was.”