Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Bayern Munich CEO Accuses Canada Soccer of ‘Gross Negligence’ in Alphonso Davies Injury Management
Jan-Christian Dreesen, Chief Executive of Bayern Munich, has strongly criticized Canada Soccer, alleging ‘gross negligence‘ in their management of Alphonso Davies’ anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The Bundesliga club is reportedly considering legal action.
Davies Suffers ACL Injury During International Duty
The star left-back ruptured his ACL and sustained additional damage to his right knee during Canada’s 2-1 victory over the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League the previous week.
Davies, aged 24, was substituted after just 12 minutes of the match due to the injury. This marks the fourth long-term injury of his career, following previous issues with his ankles and heart.
Bayern Munich Condemns Handling of Davies’ Injury
An ACL injury typically necessitates months of rehabilitation. Bayern Munich believes Davies did not receive proper care from his national team. The club asserts that Canada Soccer sent him on a 12-hour flight back to Munich without a comprehensive medical examination.
Following the confirmation of the full extent of Davies’ injury, Dreesen stated on Wednesday that the Bundesliga champions are contemplating ‘legal action’ against Canada Soccer due to their alleged lack of due diligence.
‘Sending an obviously injured player with a damaged knee on a twelve-hour intercontinental flight without a thorough medical examination is, in our view, severely negligent and a clear breach of medical due diligence,’ Dreesen told BILD.
Legal Action Considered Against Canada Soccer
‘We are demanding a full investigation into the events from Canada Soccer and expressly reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings.’
Bayern’s CEO further argued that Davies’ participation in the match was unwarranted, given that he was managing a pre-existing issue and the third-place play-off held insignificant stakes.
Dreesen added: ‘The participation of Davies, who already had muscular problems before the game, in a match of no sporting importance is baffling from our perspective.’
Davies started for Canada the previous Sunday, despite sustaining a knock in his nation’s prior game against Mexico merely two days before.
Sporting Director Freund Echoes Concerns
Bayern’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, echoed his CEO’s opinions, stating that Davies played due to his desire to support his team, but his fitness level was questionable.
‘He is the captain, a young man who wanted to help his team but it was borderline,’ Freund commented.
‘The second point is the injury after 12 minutes. Then Phonzy [Alphonso] flies back on a 12-hour flight and we all assume it is not a serious injury, but then we have this.’
‘That is careless. It is unprofessional, and we need to discuss and clarify it. We are the club, we pay the players, so we will be investigating what transpired.’
Canada Soccer Defends Player Welfare Protocols
Nevertheless, Canada Soccer spokesperson Paulo Senra responded to the allegations and defended the federation’s handling of the situation in comments to The Athletic.
He stated: ‘We further reviewed the circumstances related to the medical care provided to Alphonso Davies.’
‘Medical documentation confirms that proper care protocols were followed, and communication records show that our medical staff provided updates to Bayern Munich throughout the entire tournament.’
‘We spoke further with Bayern Munich today to provide them with context and details to address any concerns. We are all dedicated to assisting Alphonso in the months ahead.’
Davies’ Expected Return
Davies is set to miss the remainder of the current season and a significant portion of the 2025-26 campaign.
The typical recovery period for an ACL rupture among soccer players ranges from six to nine months but can extend to 12 months in more severe instances.
While Bayern fans may hope to see Davies return to action by September at the earliest, a more probable timeline would see the player back on the field by the start of 2026.