Dutch FA apologise to Bayern Munich over Arjen Robben affair
The KNVB (Dutch Football Association) has apologised to Bayern Munich over the incident which resulted in winger Arjen Robben being ruled out of action indefinitely.
The Dutch FA and the Bundesliga champions have been at odds in recent months after the player returned from the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a five-inch tear in his hamstring.
The club’s doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt had claimed that the Dutch set-up was negligent in handling Robben’s thigh injury, which was sustained before this summer’s tournament in South Africa.
The former Chelsea player made a rapid recovery and featured in most of his country’s games at the tournament as they reached the final. It was only after he returned to Bayern that the full extent of the injury was discovered.
Following Müller-Wohlfahrt’s claims, he was publicly slammed by Henk Kesler. The KNVB president has since apologised for his remarks.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told German website SPOX, "KNVB president Henk Kesler has apologised, specifically for the very rude tone he took against Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt."
Rummenigge added that he hoped the issue could be resolved quickly. "I am cautiously optimistic that we will find a solution."
Bayern are hoping to receive compensation from the KNVB for the salary they have been paying to Robben while he has been out of action. They have considered taking legal action against the KNVB, but are hopeful that the matter can be resolved without having
to take the dispute to court.
Robben has been absent for the whole of a poor Bundesliga campaign that has seen Bayern fall 12 points behind league leaders Mainz, having claimed just 12 points from nine games to date.
The 26-year-old is not likely to make a return to first-team action before January.
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