Bayern boss Rummenigge: Lahm relations not soured over row (Roundup)

Nov 10, 2009, 13:46 GMT

   Munich - Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has denied relations with Philipp Lahm have been soured after the defender angered the club with a critical newspaper interview.

   Rummenigge told Tuesday's tz daily relations with Lahm had 'absolutely not' been affected by the criticism aired in an interview with Saturday's Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

   Lahm has been fined by the club after being called in for talks with board members on Monday during which he issued an apology.

   The club did not stipulate the fine which German media reports put at some 25,000 euros (37,500 dollars).

Lahm, who turns 26 on Wednesday, did not want to talk about the affair anymore on Tuesday, saying only that 'everything has been said since yesterday.'

Lahm was speaking a the presentation of Germany's 2010 World Cup shirt in the southern German town of Herzogenaurach ahead of friendly internationals with Chile on Saturday and Ivory Coast next week Wednesday.

Germany coach Joachim Loew said at the same event that he will meet with Lahm over the issue but won't get involved. Loew also stood firmly behind the 62-times capped wing back.

'Philipp Lahm is not on his way to becoming a team leader, he is a team leader,' Loew said.

   Rummenigge agreed, telling Munich's Merkur daily Lahm was 'an important player' both on and off the pitch.

   'I am convinced he will at some point be captain of Bayern,' he said.

   Lahm had criticised the club's transfer policies of recent years and what he saw as the failure to develop a clear playing philosophy.

   The club issued a statement on Monday to say the matter had now been settled after talks with Lahm.

   'In an extremely open, detailed and constructive exchange, Germany international Lahm apologized for his course of action and the tone of his statements,' a statement said.

   'Philipp has accepted that it would have been better to express his opinion directly to the board.'