Bayern Munich slap big fines on Lahm and Toni (Roundup)

Nov 8, 2009, 13:42 GMT

Munich - Italy striker Luca Toni and Germany defender Philipp Lahm were Sunday handed heavy fines by Bayern Munich amid media reports of a 'crisis' at Germany's most successful Bundesliga club.

Bayern said in a statement Lahm had breached club rules in 'a flagrant and unacceptable manner' with a critical newspaper interview and was being handed the highest fine ever imposed by the club.

Toni was given a 'severe fine' for leaving the stadium Saturday after being substituted at half-time.

The club gave no information on the extent of the fines.

Coach Louis van Gaal and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke to both players before Sunday's training and also addressed the entire squad, the statement said.

   A newspaper interview by Lahm highly critical of transfer policies, and Toni's departure after half-time against Schalke 04 had left the club management seething.

German media Sunday spoke of a major crisis at Bayern - eighth in the league and facing elimination from the Champions League - with Bild am Sonntag saying the club was in 'total chaos.'

Bayern's statement said Toni's departure from the Allianz Arena during Saturday's game was an 'unacceptable breach of discipline.' He had now apologized to the club and his team-mates for his behaviour, it said.

Lahm had violated club rules in 'a flagrant and unacceptable manner' with his interview published Saturday by Sueddeutsche Zeitung in which he criticised the club, the coach and team-mates, the statement said.

Bayern said players had agreed in their contracts that interviews had to be organized through the club and be authorised ahead of publication. It was also 'an absolute taboo' to criticise the club, coach or players in public.

'Philipp has breached both of these clear agreements,' Rummenigge said.

'We are disappointed because as vice-captain he has a special responsibility for the team and the club.'

He said Lahm was being punished with the highest fine ever imposed on a player at the club.

An angry general manager Uli Hoeness had told reporters after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Schalke: 'You can be assured that he will regret this interview.'

   In his interview, Lahm had criticised transfer policies over the last few years and the lack of a playing philosophy, while also taking a swipe at the team's midfield.

   The interview has followed a midweek 2-0 home defeat against French club Girondins Bordeaux which has left Bayern teetering on the brink of Champions League elimination, and was published ahead of Saturday's visit by fourth-placed Schalke.

   The match did nothing to ease the problems for van Gaal who saw his side fail to overcome a defensive Schalke despite enjoying most of the play.

   'Our goal was to beat Schalke, but we've unfortunately not managed that,' van Gaal said.

   'We didn't play well for the first 10 minutes, but we dominated the game after that. We had chances, but we kept coming up inches short. That has to improve. I'm really frustrated about not scoring in the second half, because we'd have deserved a goal.'

   Hoeness said Bayern were 'having no luck at all at the moment' but that 'you can never be satisfied with failure to win at home.'