Bayern coach fines and suspends Oliver Kahn for one game

Bayern Munich goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn was suspended for one game and ruled to pay fine by coach Ottmar Hitzfeld on "disciplinary grounds."

Photo: Bayern coach fines and suspends Oliver Kahn for one game

Neither the club nor the goalkeeper gave the reason for his suspension.

"I am not so surprised," Kahn said. "I understand it. Discipline has to be the highest requirement."

He was also fined 25,000 EUR(US$36,500).

Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer hinted that the reason for Kahn's punishment was his early departure from the team's Christmas party.

"It's a time that brings the team together," Beckenbauer said on German television. "He's the captain and he just gets up and leave early."

Media reports said Kahn left the party, after Saturday's 0-0 draw at home against Duisburg, at 9 p.m.

Kahn will miss Saturday's game at Hertha Berlin, the last before the Bundesliga goes into its winter break.

Bayern leads the standings by two points but the team has been struggling in recent matches and played without inspiration against Duisburg.

Kahn criticized some teammates in an interview published Monday in Kicker magazine, singling out Franck Ribery and Luca Toni.

The two are among Bayern's new signings and have had mediocre games recently after an impressive start.

Kahn said "two or three" good games were not enough in Bayern, which he said, was not "Marseille or Fiorentina."

Ribery arrived in Munich from Marseille and Toni's previous club was Fiorentina.

Defender Philipp Lahm declined to say what led to Kahn's suspension.

"It's something that happened in the locker room and I am not going to make it public," he said.

The 38-year-old Kahn is in his final season with Bayern before ending his career.