( CNN ) -- The president of one of the world 's most famous football clubs has decided not to appeal a jail sentence for tax evasion as he stepped down from key roles at the reigning German and European champions Bayern Munich . Germany and Bayern legend , Uli Hoeness , who resigned from his post as president and board chairman , was found guilty by a German court Thursday and sentenced to three years and six months . `` After discussing the matter with my family I have decided to accept the judgment passed by Munich District Court ( Landgericht ) II regarding my tax affairs , '' he said in a statement released on the Bayern Munich website . `` Evading tax was the biggest mistake of my life . I accept the consequences of this mistake , '' he continued . `` Furthermore I hereby resign the offices of president of FC Bayern München e.V . and chairman of the FC Bayern München AG supervisory board with immediate effect . '' Hoeness ' lawyer had initially intimated that the 62-year-old would appeal the sentence . During the trial , Hoeness admitted to evading €28.4 million ( $ 39.6 million ) in taxes on income earned in secret Swiss bank accounts . He was originally charged with evading €3.5 million ( $ 4.87 million ) but that amount increased to $ 39.6 million during the court process . State prosecutor Achim von Engel had called for a prison sentence of five-and-a-half years for Hoeness on seven counts of tax evasion . Hoeness thanked friends and colleagues for their backing , before pledging his continued support for Bayern . `` FC Bayern München is my life 's work and will always remain so . I will continue to be associated with this magnificent club and its people in other ways for as long as I live . '' `` I wish to thank from the heart my personal friends and all followers of FC Bayern München for your support . '' Hoeness played for Bayern from 1970-1979 before retiring through injury aged 27 . Despite that truncated playing career , he won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup with West Germany and three successive European Cups with Bayern . Subsequently he was appointed general manager of Bayern , who won last year 's Champions League final at Wembley after beating German rivals Borussia Dortmund .
the FC Bayern München AG president Borussia Dortmund has said he wo n't appeal tax evasion sentence . Lawyers initially intimated the former European international would appeal . Hoeness has been sentenced to six months and three years in jail . Bayern great resigns from club president and board chairman roles .