Kahn handed surprise ban, fine
Updated: 2007-12-13 08:34
MUNICH, Germany - Bayern Munich have surprisingly suspended captain Oliver Kahn for their final Bundesliga game of the year and fined him 25,000 euros (36,600 US dollars) for "disciplinary reasons".
 Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Oliver Kahn walks over the pitch during a training session at the club's grounds in Munich, southern Germany. Kahn has been surprisingly suspended for their final Bundesliga game of the year and hit with a 25,000 euros fine (36,600 US dollars) for "disciplinary reasons". [Agencies] |
The 38-year-old misses the game at Hertha Berlin on Saturday, on top of the fine handed out by Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, with no explanation given as to what Kahn did to warrant such sanctions.
A press release issued by the German giants on Tuesday simply stated Kahn had been suspended, fined on "disciplinary grounds" and the matter had been dealt with internally.
Kahn trained with the side as usual on Tuesday and his place against Hertha will go to his 23-year-old deputy Michael Rensing, but the ex-Germany captain was taking the situation on the chin.
"I understand the punishment and discipline is important," said Kahn.
"We have talked about it and I have accepted it."
But possibly the reason behind Hitzfeld's tough stance can be linked to Kahn's comments on Monday.
After Bayern drew 0-0 with strugglers Duisburg on Saturday, Kahn was typically harsh with a thinly-veiled attack on his colleagues French midfielder Franck Ribery, who joined from Marseille, and Italian striker Luca Toni, who joined from Fiorentina.
"There are one or two here who need to realise that two or three good games is not enough," Kahn told German magazine Kicker on Monday.
"Bayern are not Marseille or Fiorentina, we are more like Milan, Real, Manchester United or Barcelona.
"They have to be far more consistent."
And according to Die Welt newspaper, Kahn left Bayern's Christmas celebrations in Munich too early for Hitzfeld's liking.
Kahn will retire from the Bundesliga at the end of this season having first joined Bayern in 1994.
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