Ribery to undergo groin operation

French playmaker Franck Ribery is to undergo an operation on his groin on Friday in Munich, the French coaching staff announced on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Bayern Munich star, who was involved in the strike last Sunday over the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka, arrived back with the France squad at Le Bourget airport north of Paris on Thursday before taking aprivate jet to Germany.

The French coaching staff did not specify either the exact problem or the seriousness of the injury to Ribery, whose season had been affected by a left knee injury.

It completes a miserable year for the player once hailed as France’s golden boy.

Ribery, who played in all three of France’s group matches, was implicated in a scandal surrounding an underage prostitute and was also suspended for the Champions League final after being sent-off in the semi-final first leg match with French side Lyon.