GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Franck Ribery takes part in first Bayern Munich training session since he was questioned in under-age sex case in France

Record ID: 572872

  • Title: GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Franck Ribery takes part in first Bayern Munich training session since he was questioned in under-age sex case in France
  • Date: 26th July 2010
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (JULY 25, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS OF FC BAYERN MUNICH TRAINING GROUND FRANCK RIBERY EMERGES FOR TRAINING COACHES EMPTYING NET FULL OF BALLS VARIOUS RIBERY TRAINING SPECTATORS RIBERY TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH FAN WERNER DOETZER SAYING: "His private matters are private. They have nothing to do with the sport. If he performs well for Bayern that is all that counts." (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH FAN HARALD STEINBEISS SAYING: "That is his private matter. There he should really do what he wants to do. The main point is that he plays well, that is all I care about." (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN FAN FABIO ROMANUCI SAYING: "That is only a battle being fought in France and has no place here. I thought it was long over with, that it all transpired before the World Cup. They only played it up again after the World Cup. I don't see that there is a problem." SPECTATORS WIDE OF TRAINING VARIOUS MARTIN DEMICHELIS AND DANIEL VAN BUYTEN TRAINING (4 SHOTS) RIBERY WATCHING VARIOUS OF BAYERN COACH LOUIS VAN GAAL WATCHING TRAINING FROM CLUB BALCONY/ TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAA00F83COIMCRKA1WFWIDLDEZA
  • Story Text: French soccer international Franck Ribery took part in his first training session with Bayern Munich since he was placed under judicial investigation on suspicion of soliciting sex with an under-age prostitute.
    Police investigating a prostitution ring questioned the Bayern Munich winger for several hours at the Paris vice squad headquarters, the Paris public prosecutor's office said during the week.
    The offence is punishable by a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros ($58,390), although a conviction hinges on proving the accused knew the girl's age.
    Ribery's lawyer said he did not know she was under 18 at the time.
    Police had postponed the hearing until after the World Cup, in which Ribery was part of a disastrous French campaign that led to a public outcry after players protested against the coach and the team failed to win a single game.
    But Ribery's problems did not interest Bayern fans who turned out to watch the pre-season training session.
    "His private matters are private. They have nothing to do with the sport. If he performs well for Bayern that is all that counts," said one fan.
    "That is his private matter. There he should really do what he wants to do. The main point is that he plays well, that is all I care about," said another.
    "That is only a battle being fought in France and has no place here. I thought it was long over with, that it all transpired before the World Cup. They only played it up again after the World Cup. I don't see that there is a problem," added a third.
    Dutch coach Louis van Gaal watched the training session from a balcony at the team's plush training headquarters.
    Bayern reached last season's Champions League final but were beaten 2-0 by Inter Milan in Madrid in May.
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