Bayern Munich made clear on Monday that they will not release Franck Ribery to appear before a French Football Federation (FFF) disciplinary committee later this month.
Ribery is one of five players called by the FFF to discuss their behaviour during France’s ill-fated World Cup campaign in South Africa but the German champions say he only has to be released for official international footballing dates.
“It can’t be possible that the French federation randomly remove Franck Ribery from his responsibilities at Bayern Munich,” club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement on Monday.
Patrice Evra, Eric Abidal, Nicolas Anelka and Jeremy Toulalan have also been called to appear at the hearing on August 17.
France finished bottom of their group in South Africa, earning one point in three matches.
The low point was reached when the players refused to participate at a training session ahead of Les Bleus’ final match against South Africa.
The players took their step in protest of striker Nicolas Anelka being kicked off the squad for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.
New coach Laurent Blanc has suspended all 23 members of the World Cup squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Norway in Oslo as punishment.
