Lothar Matthaus criticises UEFA over rearranged Dortmund game against Monaco
Thursday 13 April 2017 10:12, UK
German legend Lothar Matthaus has branded UEFA's decision to rearrange Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League match against Monaco to 24 hours after the bomb attack as "incomprehensible".
Dortmund lost the first leg of their quarter-final 3-2 at home on Wednesday, just a day after the original match was postponed when three explosions went off near their team bus as it travelled to Signal Iduna Park.
The blasts on Tuesday night led to Spanish defender Marc Bartra needing surgery on an arm injury.
Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said UEFA's decision left a "very bad feeling" as his side were never asked whether they wanted to play and were informed by a text message.
And Matthaus, who captained West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup, claims that "many players did not want to play".
"UEFA exerts pressure and the politicians ask Borussia Dortmund to defy the terrorists", he said in an interview with Sky.
"For me it is irresponsible that the players have to take to the pitch today. It is an incomprehensible decision from UEFA, which put Dortmund under pressure."
The governing body responded to Tuchel's comments by saying both clubs agreed for the match to take place on Wednesday and it did not receive "any information which suggested that any of the teams did not want to play".
The second leg of the last eight tie will take place in France next Wednesday.
