03.02.2010
Long johns set to land Robben in hot water
Bayern Munich's Dutch striker Arjen Robben shoots during Bayern's game against Mainz 05 on January 30 in Munich, southern Germany, January 30.
Bayern Munich's Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben could be in hot water with Bundesliga bosses unless he stops wearing his lucky long johns, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Robben has dazzled the Bundesliga in recent weeks with world-class goals direct from free-kicks in consecutive wins over Werder Bremen and Mainz while wearing light grey long johns to protect against Germany's sub-zero weather.
But the warming garments break the rules laid down by the German Football League (DFL) and Robben risks a fine if he continues to wear them.
Under rule 4 concerning players clothing, the league stipulates long garments worn under the shorts must be the same colour as the football strip, according to German magazine Sport Bild.
With second-placed Bayern playing defending champions Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Munich's director of sport Christian Nerlinger says one solution would be to dye the offending garment.
"My wife doesn't think they look very nice, but they are very functional," Robben admitted recently when asked about the long johns.
Robben signed for Bayern last August from Real Madrid for 24 million euros (33.3 million US dollars) and has scored six goals in 12 games for the German giants.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Torsten Silz
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