Fines for Bayern pair
Monday, January 7, 2002
Article summary
FC Bayern München are to fine Giovane Elber and Claudio Pizarro for being late for training.
Article body
Giovane Elber and Claudio Pizarro are to be fined for failing to show up in time for FC Bayern München’s first training session of the new year.
Elber and Pizarro missing
Elber is still in Brazil having chosen to stay in his home country because his father has just undergone a complicated bypass operation. "We spoke to Giovane on the phone yesterday lunchtime. He'll be back in Munich on Sunday," said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. Peruvian striker Pizarro joined training immediately after his arrival on Saturday after his delayed return to Germany due to problems getting a visa for his daughter.
No leniency
Both players are expected to receive fines around €13,000. "There are no excuses for either of them," said Hitzfeld. "They should have told me or the club earlier about their problems and I can only characterize this as a lack of respect."
Caught in Atlanta
Stefan Effenberg was also missing from the training session which was conducted in brilliant sunshine. However he had received permission to be late, as he was still waiting for a return flight from snowbound Atlanta after a holiday in the United States.
