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Kahn should have been punished more, says Netzer
MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Bayern Munich captain Oliver Kahn was lucky to escape with a 25,000-euros (37,500-US dollars) fine and one-match suspension for his behaviour last weekend, according to former German international Guenter Netzer.
Kahn was reprimanded on Tuesday for comments made on Monday when he criticised Bayern's stars Franck Ribery and Luca Toni for inconsistent performances and then made an early exit from the club's Christmas party on Saturday.
But coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's sanctions have generated plenty of debate in Germany with former midfielder and TV pundit Netzer insisting Bayern should have taken a tougher line on the former German national captain.
"I would have punished him more and taken the captaincy off him, because his actions show his ignorance towards his role in the team," said Netzer, who won 37 caps and helped West Germany win the 1972 European Championships.
Kahn has kept the captaincy, but is suspended for Saturday's Bundesliga clash with Hertha Berlin and should be back in goal for next Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash against Greek side Aris Thessaloniki.
And Hitzfeld will issue his team with a code of conduct over the Bundesliga's winter break so his players know what is expected of them and what he considers to be appropriate behaviour in a bid to avoid any repetition of Kahn's comments.
"It was time to lay down the law, so that every player knows how he is expected to behave while he is at Bayern Munich," said Hitzfeld when asked about Kahn's punishment.
"The fact it's Kahn hurts me personally, but I was forced to react."
The coach himself used the phrase "draconian measures" to describe the punishment handed down in a personal meeting with Kahn ahead of training on Tuesday.
"He understood and accepted it, and apologised. As far as I'm concerned, the matter is closed."
Hitzfeld also gave more details on the two cases in which Kahn had failed to fulfil his obligations to the club.
First, the 38-year-old explicitly criticised Ribery and Toni in an interview published here on Monday.
"This cannot be allowed to happen, or we'll have a madhouse here," said Hitzfeld.
Second, Kahn chose to make an early departure from Saturday's team Christmas party, leaving Mark van Bommel to step in and deliver the traditional captain's speech.
"His behaviour at the Christmas party was unacceptable. The captain can't be leaving early to go home or anywhere else without prior agreement.
"As captain, Oliver Kahn must act as an example to the team, because his team-mates take their lead from him.
"If I turn a blind eye, how would I be able to discipline players who know the captain's allowed to get away with it?" Hitzfeld asked.
Hitzfeld's contract expires at the end of the season and he has hinted at an interest in taking over as coach of the Swiss national team after next summer's Euro 2008 tournament.
Former Bayern midfielder and Germany international Stefan Effenberg says current VfB Stuttgart coach Armin Veh would be a good replacement.
"Armin Veh would be a good replacement, he has Champions League experience," said Effenberg. "No one knows if Hitzfeld will stay in Munich for next season, but Veh would do a good job here if the job became vacant."
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