Rebel Ballack must apologise to Loew, says Klinsmann

Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Friday told Michael Ballack to apologise for his damning criticism of Germany coach Joachim Loew.

Klinsmann weighed into the growing controversy, which was sparked on Tuesday when national team captain Ballack claimed Loew didn't show enough respect and loyalty to his senior players.

“The situation is very simple: Michael must apologise for his comments on the coach and the players,” Klinsmann told German sports news agency SID.

Loew has demanded that Ballack, who plays for Chelsea, returns to Germany to explain his outburst, with both men speaking to each other on the phone Thursday evening, according the German Football Federation (DFB).

“What will become of Michael is 'Jogi's' business. He is the boss, he decides for himself,” said Klinsmann, who took Germany to the World Cup semi-finals in 2006.

Earlier former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus urged Loew to punish Ballack, saying that he had breached the team's code of conduct.

“Every discussion between a senior player and the coach should happen behind locked doors. But Ballack does not seem to adhere to a code of conduct anymore.”

Matthaus added: “He runs everything past the media. The trust in him has been lost.”

The incident began on Tuesday after Ballack told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper that: “Experienced national players deserve at least some respect and loyalty.

“There was a group of experienced players in that squad like Torsten Frings, Miroslav Klose and me whose achievements have suddenly been questioned and we find ourselves under attack,” added Ballack.