Bayern outraged with Dutch as Robben sidelined again

Bayern Munich have accused the Netherlands of allowing Arjen Robben to play at the World Cup with an injury after announcing that the winger would miss the first two months of the Bundesliga season yesterday.

Bayern said on their website that a routine pre-season exam had shown Robben had a torn muscle in his left thigh, adding that he had suffered the injury shortly before the World Cup.

The 26-year-old missed the his team's first two group matches at the World Cup, but then played in the remaining five and helped the Dutch reach the final where they lost 1-0 to Spain.

"This is a severe injury," club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt said. "I find it irresponsible that this injury has not been precisely diagnosed and that they have let Arjen play. For my part, I offered to help with the diagnosis but this was not taken into account."

Robben, who scored two goals at the World Cup but missed a superb chance to put the Dutch ahead in the final, was quoted as saying: "It's a shock for me to get a diagnosis like this on my return. I'm very disappointed. This absence is bitter for me and for the team."

Club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was also upset. "Naturally, Bayern Munich are angry," he said. "Once again, we as a club must pay the bill after a player has been severely injured with his national team."