Bayern injury anger

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said he was angry that his club would suffer the consequences of an injury picked up at the World Cup by Arjen Robben.

"We aren't only disappointed, we are very annoyed," Rummenigge told the German daily newspaper Muenchner Merkur.

"Once again we have to pay for a player that we handed over to someone else. I have asked FIFA to mediate in the matter."

Bayern said that a routine pre-season exam showed that the winger had a torn muscle in his left thigh, having suffered the injury shortly before the World Cup.

The 26-year-old missed the first two group matches for his country at the tournament in South Africa, but played in the remaining five - helping the Netherlands to reach the final where they lost 1-0 to Spain.

"We are dealing with a serious injury," said Bayern club doctor Hans Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt.

"In my opinion, it was irresponsible that the injury was not better diagnosed and that Arjen was allowed to play."

Strongly-worded condemnation

The club had initially issued a strongly-worded statement blaming the Dutch on its website, before replacing it with a more moderate version.

Robben himself expressed shock at the results of the scan and surprise at the length of his forced break.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid player joined Louis Van Gaal's side early last season, helping Bayern to clinch a Bundesliga and German Cup double and a place in the Champions League final.

Author: Richard Connor (AFP/dpa/Reuters)
Editor: Michael Lawton