Bayern Munich warned Canada Soccer of potential legal action on Friday following the injury to defender Alphonso Davies. Davies returned from the March international break with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
In an interview with the German tabloid Bild released on Friday, Bayern’s CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen expressed the club’s desire for a “complete clarification of the events,” accusing Canada Soccer of “gross negligence,” and stating, ” We reserve the right to take legal action.”
“Sending an obviously injured player with a damaged knee on a twelve-hour intercontinental flight without a thorough medical assessment is, in our view, grossly negligent and a clear breach of medical duty of care,” Dreesen said, saying the match had “little sporting significance”. Dreesen said.
Canada’s captain, Davies, sustained his injury just 12 minutes into Sunday’s third-place CONCACAF Nations League play-off against the United States, which Canada won 2-1.
Canada Soccer had cleared the 24-year-old, but a subsequent examination in Munich revealed that he had indeed torn his ACL, which resulted in him being sidelined for at least six months.
During a press conference on Friday, Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund expressed his frustration to reporters, labelling Canada Soccer’s decision as “borderline and negligent.”
Bayern is currently without its captain and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer. During the international break, they also lost centre-back Dayot Upamecano to a long-term leg injury. Bayern confirmed Upamecano’s injury earlier this week, and German media indicated that he might be out for the remainder of the season.
Bayern has a six-point lead over defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the league. Sunday’s match against St. Pauli at home is scheduled.
