Boateng crashed car on his way back to Bavaria after visiting ill son on Tuesday; defender criticises fine, calling it "sad"
Thursday 2 April 2020 10:39, UK
Bayern Munich have fined Jerome Boateng after the defender broke government lockdown rules and left the city without the club's permission to visit his ill son.
Boateng left Bavaria, the German state on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, without the club's permission to see his ill son and crashed his car on the motorway on his way back.
The former Manchester City defender was caught in a hailstorm and slipped off the road in his Mercedes equipped with summer tyres, but escaped the accident uninjured.
Bayern released a statement on Wednesday confirming Boateng has been fined for his behaviour and will devolve the money to local hospitals.
"Bayern defender Jerome Boateng left Munich yesterday without permission from the club," the statement read. "Boateng has transgressed the guidelines issued by the club by being too far away from his home.
"These guidelines govern the behaviour of the FC Bayern players in the current situation in line with the Bavarian state government's directives on restrictions on movement and the recommendations of the health authorities.
"FC Bayern believes the club has a responsibility to be a role model. As a consequence of this transgression, the club has decided to impose a fine on Boateng. The club will donate the money to Munich hospitals."
The 31-year-old showed little understanding of the fine but accepted his responsibility.
"I would accept any fine there is in this world if it is justified, and I know that it surely was a mistake to not inform the club about my trip," he told Bild.
"But in that very moment I only thought about my son. He was in a bad shape healthwise. If a son calls his father - of course I'll drive off, no matter what time it is. For him, I put up with any fine, I mean he is my son after all.
"I'd like to see that father who hesitates in such a situation and does not take off to get to his four-year-old son. If he copes with a fine no matter what - respect! I consider that being sad!"
