Bayern Munich promise to "vigorously pursue legal action" in defending club, players

Bayern Munich released a statement today threatening future legal action against media organizations that make up "false and malicious allegations" against the club, players, and coaches. In the statement, Bayern continued their rigorous defense of Arturo Vidal after allegations were made against him in Kicker and SportBild regarding his salary and reported drunkenness.

A week ago, Bayern released a statement condemning the reports of the two German publications "as malicious as they are false". Today's statement, however, goes into much more detail of the legal action that Bayern did pursue against them.

Here is the statement in full.

FC Bayern München has demanded that "SPORT BILD" and "Kicker" cease making false allegations concerning Arturo Vidal. Both magazines had claimed that Vidal's remuneration comprises about "€8 million net per annum." Both "SPORT BILD" and "Kicker" have delivered a cease-and-desist letter, conceding that this allegation is false.

"SPORT BILD" had further claimed that during the training camp, Vidal "left the team base on several occasions and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on his return." Also in this case both FC Bayern München and Arturo Vidal requested "SPORT BILD" to cease making false allegations and received a cease-and-desist letter from "SPORT BILD." "SPORT BILD" has thereby conceded that this allegation is equally false.

FC Bayern München AG chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented: "The media are currently spreading many rumours and much speculation about FC Bayern. In the future FC Bayern will vigorously pursue legal action against false and malicious allegations to protect the club, its players and the coaching staff."

Beware media organizations making up false, malicious allegations about Bayern Munich and the club's players. You will not get away with this for much longer.