Bayern hit back at Platini over Ribery retirement row

Sep 9, 2014 08:21:07

Uefa president Michel Platini said the winger would be banned for three games if he rejected a France call-up but the Bavarian chief says the matter has been resolved

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists that row over Franck Ribery's international retirement has been "all but settled".

 
Uefa president Michel Platini claimed on Sunday that the French winger would be hit with a three-game suspension for his club side if he refused a call-up from Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps.

However, Rummenigge insists that Ribery has already been given permission to bring the curtain down on his international career.

"It is all but settled," the Bayern chief told Bild. "As Philipp Lahm has discussed his international retirement with [Germany coach Joachim] Low, Franck has indeed discussed his with Deschamps.

"He will still not being called up anymore [despite Platini's threat]. Everything is in order and Fifa-compliant."

Platini had argued that players do not have the right to choose whether they represent their country.

"Franck Ribery cannot simply decide whether he plays for France or not," the former Bleus ace told Bild am Sonntag.

"If coach Didier Deschamps calls him up, he must come to play for the national team."

However, Bayern's stance on Ribery's retirement has also drawn support from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.

"The decision must be left to the players themselves," argued BVB sporting director Michael Zorc. "They are not serfs of their federations!"

Ribery was capped 81 times by his country before deciding to call time on his international career after missing this summer's World Cup with a back problem.