Daily Schmankerl: Bayern declines to confirm interest in Leroy Sané, Jordan Torunarigha’s statement about racism in the Bundesliga, and more!

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge neither confirms nor denies any interest in Leroy Sané

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is repaying Manchester City’s (and Chelsea’s) outrage over comments about players with 24-karat non-comments:

Rummenigge about the Leroy Sané dealings: “I’d prefer not to say anything about players who are under contract at other clubs and generate any discussion at Manchester City. Sport1: “But is there still interest?”

KHR: I’d prefer neither to confirm nor deny. We will do our job.”

I can translate that from German to English, but you can translate that from plain talk to

Thomas Muller is Bayern Munich’s Player of the Month

Jordan Torunarigha speaks out about the racist abuse hurtled at him in Gelsenkirchen

Jordan Torunarigha shed tears on the field in Gelsenkirchen after Schalke fans hurled racist insults his way during Hertha Berlin’s Pokal Clash with them. He kept silent then, but decided to issue a statement afterward, when he had collected his thoughts. Hertha shared it on Twitter, and I will translate it below, because Torunarigha’s message and perspective are critically important:

I didn’t want to give a statement about the events out of emotion, but now I’d like to make that up.

I was born in Germany, I grew up here, I graduated high school here, speak German like everyone else, so I cannot understand these statements, as they were made by some idiots during the game, in any way whatsoever.

Many people can’t understand what that means and what they do to people with such statements. I’m glad I had the good fortune to have such support from my family, my fellow players, and my club! Not everyone perhaps has that in such a situation. I was born in Chemnitz [ed.: in the former East Germany], experienced all that already as a boy. My parents were insulted. That’s why such a situation like that at Schalke [ed.: in the supposedly more tolerant former West Germany] stirs me up so much and that’s why I reacted so emotionally.

No one can pick their skin color at birth, and it shouldn’t even matter at all. Just as different skin colors, religions, and origins are simply a matter of course among us athletes in the locker room, so should they be in our society!

FC Bayern commemorates 1958 Munich Air Disaster (FCBayern.com)

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, club president Herbert Hainer, and honorary president Uli Hoeness were all on hand on Thursday to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, in which 23 people perished when the plane carrying the Manchester United soccer team crashed during takeoff from Munich.

Rummenigge laid the foundation stone for a commemorative display case at the crash site in Trudering, Munich. Two hundred Manchester United supporters were present for the ceremony at Manchesterplatz. Rummenigge said,

With all the sadness that this disaster has caused, on this anniversary we also always honour those who work for humanitarian causes, charity, and international relations.

He said he hoped that the showcase would “symbolise remembrance of yesterday and the commitment to today and tomorrow.”

U19 players Andersson and Mayer go out on loan (FCBayern.com)

Bayern has sent off two U19 players on loan for the Rückrunde. Alex Timossi Andersson has rejoined his last club Helsingborgs IF, and Jakob Mayer has moved to Bavarian Regionalliga club TSV Rosenheim. Andersson, primarily a right-winger, played in six games for the U19, missing much of the Hinrunde due to injury. Mayer, a goalkeeper, had largely served as a backup for regular keeper Lukas Schneller.

FC Bayern Campus director Jochen Sauer said,

We’re glad that both will get the chance to gain playing experience in the men’s division. In the summer, they can settle in with us again.

Bayern’s A-Junioren U19 team is currently in outstanding form and in second place behind VfB Stuttgart’s U19 team in the U19 Bundesliga South/Southwest.