Bayern Munich will support Ribery in under-age sex case

Bayern Munich will support Franck Ribery after he and fellow French international Karim Benzema were sent for trial for allegedly soliciting an under-age prostitute.

Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer apparently told German sports news agency SID that "we will tell him that we stand by him and that he will get our best support".

Ribery, Benzema and seven others have been informed by an investigating magistrate that they will need to stand trial over the allegations which surfaced before the 2010 World Cup finals.

It is alleged that Ribery and Benzema paid a 16-year-old girl for sex after meeting in a Paris bar. The girl said the players were unaware that she was not 18.

Soliciting sex with an under-age prostitute is punishable by up to three years in prison in France with a maximum fine of £35,000.

Ribery's lawyer is astonished by the magistrate's decision after another judge said that the two players had no case to answer.

"This decision is as surprising as it is unfair with regard to the contents of the dossier and the requests of the prosecutor's office. But I remain confident about the outcome of the process," said his lawyer Sophie Botta.

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Neuer will not play in the coming Germany-Argentina friendly

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is to miss Wednesday's friendly against Argentina after a suffering a minor pelvis injury in Bayern Munich's Super Cup victory.

Second choice Ron-Robert Zieler is likely to take his place against the South Americans while 20-year-old Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been called up to the squad.

Ter Stegen had an unhappy time on his only previous international appearance, conceding five goals in a 5-3 friendly defeat to Switzerland in May.

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Wolfsburg confirm Diego return

Brazilian playmaker Diego will be back at Wolfsburg this season despite his turbulent relationship with coach Felix Magath and his impressive last season on loan at Atletico Madrid.
 Magath, a disciplinarian whose nickname Quaelix is a cross between his surname and the German word for torture, said he had ironed out his problems with the temperamental Diego, who stormed out on the team on the final day of the 2010-11 season.

He lavished praised on the 27-year-old and said he would be the team's playmaker for the upcoming season.

"It's well known that the relationship after the Hoffenheim match was tense, but we have talked it over and cleared away all the problems," Magath told a news conference.

"In our club, it's give and take, mistakes are excused. We must now look forward. Diego is Champions League material and a player of his class increases our chances of finishing high in the table.

"Diego will get the number 10 shirt. He is a central player who can create chances for team-mates and score goals himself.

"As playmaker it will be his job to get the most out of his team-mates.

"I ask our followers to give him a second chance. Anyone who loves football will love a player such as Diego."

"It's important that we learn from our mistakes, to do things better next time," added former Santos, Porto, Juventus and Werder Bremen midfielder Diego, sitting alongside his coach.

"That is what I would like to do now. I hope then fans can forgive me."

Diego, who has not featured for Brazil's senior side since the 2007 Copa America, left the team hotel in a fit of pique after being told he would not play in a match against Hoffenheim. He did not go to the stadium to watch the match.

Last year, he helped Atletico win the Europa League.

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Gomez out for 'several weeks'

Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez will miss the start of the new season with an ankle injury which requires surgery.

 The Germany international sustained the injury to his right ankle in the run-up to half-time during the semi-final of the Liga Total Cup, a pre-season tournament, against Werder Bremen.

The 27-year-old, who scored 26 Bundesliga goals last season as Bayern finished second to Borussia Dortmund, is scheduled to have an operation in the damaged cartilage this week and is expected to be out of action for "several weeks".

With their season-opening match away to newly-promoted Greuther Fuerth three weeks away, Bayern are also without versatile left-sider David Alaba and defensive duo Rafinha and Diego Contento for the start of the new campaign.

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger also caused concern when he appeared to injure his foot during the third-place match against Hamburg, but manager Jupp Heynckes said afterwards that the problem was not serious.

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munich for twelve friendlies through Summer schedule

The official summer vacation at Bayern ended on Tuesday 3 July, when the stars reported back for pre-season training, although that did not apply to those involved in Euro 2012. The current internationals are only now on holiday after their countries' elimination from the continental showdown in Poland and Ukraine, creating a well-known headache for boss Jupp Heynckes as he seeks to put together a team for the first competitive showdown of the new campaign, the German Supercup clash with Borussia Dortmund on 12 August. fcbayern.de summarises Bayern’s summer schedule, although fans should check back regularly for the latest information, as dates are subject to change and further friendly matches are likely to be added at a later date.

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