Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost feels footballers are being given even less freedom of speech after two high-profile Germany internationals were recently punished for speaking out against their clubs.

The former Schalke goalkeeper told Welt am Sonntag that "not even constructive criticism" is tolerated within Bundesliga clubs, who are beginning to gag their players after several examples of undesired outspokenness.

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm was recently given a club record fine for remarks he made in a newspaper interview while Jens Lehmann, of Stuttgart, was also made to pay for comments he made on television.

Both players were reprimanded by their clubs and told to air their views internally, but Rost says even that is no longer possible.

"Anybody who says something critical is regarded as a moaner or an unsettling influence," he said.