Former Bayern Munich chief Hoeness released from prison

Former FC Bayern Munich president and German football great Uli Hoeness has been released from prison on suspension after serving half of his three-and-half-year sentence for tax evasion.

The 64-year-old leaves the prison after 637 days to serve the rest of his sentence on probation. Bavaria's justice ministry confirmed that Hoeness was freed on Monday, reports Xinhua.

The former Bayern striker, who scored 86 goals in 239 from 1970 until 1979, lifted the European Championship in 1972 and the FIFA World Cup in 1974 with Germany's national team.

After his professional career as a player, Hoeness became Bayern's sporting director to control the club's fate for 30 years before he was appointed as the club president in 2009.

However, five years later, in March 2014, Hoeness was sentenced to three-and-a-half-year in jail for evading 28.5 million euros (around $30.9) in taxes. At the beginning of 2015, Hoeness was allowed to leave the prison during daytime to work at Bayern's youth academy.

Despite Hoeness' absence, the German giants are on their way to reap the fourth Bundesliga title in row, and the 26th overall.