Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinstweiger was reprimanded for lambasting a journalist before turning his anger on team-mate Arjen Robben during a press conference.
With Bayern set to take on arch-rivals Schalke in a highly-charged league match this evening, Schweinsteiger raged at a reporter during a press conference, but his words have drawn criticism from Bayern’s chairman.
The 26-year-old stormed out of the conference room, only to return to criticise Robben, who the day before had questioned Schweinsteiger’s lack of authority as captain.
Bayern’s vice-captain Schweinsteiger had been irked to be dubbed ‘Chefchen’ – a play on words in German implying a boss without authority – by German magazine Sport Bild.
“That a man with such a sporting CV should be ridiculed as a ‘Chefchen’ in this way, is outrageous and an insult,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“But the fact he ended up in this emotional situation with his over-the-top choice of words was not right and he knows this.”
Schweinsteiger, who has played for Germany since 2004, lost his rag in Thursday’s press conference when he turned on a Sport Bild reporter.
“I am not a Chefchen! It’s a joke what you write, you don’t understand anything about football, you should treat me with more respect,” fumed Schweini as part of a long tirade.
Schweinsteiger had been annoyed by comments made by Robben that Bayern missed the leadership of former captain Mark van Bommel during key games under Munich’s current skipper Philipp Lahm and Schweinsteiger.
Without mentioning the Dutch international by name, Schweinsteiger said: “I’m not a small captain, when I say something, everyone in the changing room listens to me.”
Results and fixtures
Played Yesterday
Kaiserslautern vs St Pauli 2-0
Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg 0-1
Today – 15.30
B. Dortmund vs Nuremberg
B. Munich vs Schalke 04 - 18.30
Cologne vs B. Leverkusen
Hamburg vs Freiburg
Hanover vs B. M’gladbach
Mainz vs E. Frankfurt
Hoffenheim vs Stuttgart
Leading standings: B. Dortmund 69; B. Leverkusen 64; Hanover 57; B. Munich 56; Mainz 49; Nuremberg 47; Hamburg 43; Freiburg 41.