Bayern Munich considering European Commission complaint over Arjen Robben injury
Although the row between Bayern Munich and the KNVB (Dutch Football Association) had looked to be at an end, the Bundesliga champions have revealed that they are considering making a complaint to the European Commission regarding an alleged breach of antitrust
law.
The club’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told German puplication Sport-Bild that: "I want FIFA and UEFA to provide insurance for the benefit of clubs in the event that a player is injured."
Bayern are claiming that the obligation for clubs to release players to their national teams is an ‘abuse of power’ while national associations have no financial responsibility for the players they call up to national team squads.
EU competition lawyer Mark-E. Orth told reporters that: "The EU Commission could deem that the obligation is an abuse of FIFA and UEFA's monopoly position, as long as national teams are not obligated to pay for damages to players.”
If Bayern carry out their threat, it could lead to the club vs country issue being changed completely, with the possibility that clubs may no longer be obligated to release their players for international games.
Player at heart of row
Robben has been at the heart of a public spat between Bayern and the KNVB since he returned from playing for Holland at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He sustained a hamstring injury in a warm-up game prior to the tournament, but made a rapid recovery to play in five games as Holland reached the final.
However, when he returned to his club, scans revealed that he had a five-inch tear in his hamstring. The KNVB insists that it treated the injury sustained before the tournament properly, but the player’s club have suggested that he was not given enough time
to heal.
With the 26-year-old set to be out of action until January, the German champions are looking to be compensated for his wages.
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