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| Monday, April 29, 2002 14:21 EST |
Effenberg missed two games for remarks
[Reuters]
BERLIN -- Bayern Munich captain Stefan Effenberg will play his last competitive game for his club when they entertain Hansa
Rostock in the final round of the Bundesliga next Saturday, said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Effenberg, whose contract expires at the end of the season and will not be renewed, had been dropped by Hitzfeld for the last two league
games after his controversial comments that many of Germany's unemployed were too lazy to look for work because the jobless benefits
were too high.
Bayern remained on course for a record fourth straight German crown as they were in third two points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund
after winning 1-0 at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.
"I am certain that Effenberg and our team will play with pride on Saturday to seize the opportunity of defending our title so that we can
celebrate at the end of the season, which is what we and our fans want," Hitzfeld said.
Effenberg, one of the country's highest paid players, caused a national outrage with his remarks in a magazine interview.
"Stefan has had to miss two league matches because of his controversial statements," said Hitzfeld, who talked to Effenberg on Sunday.
"For us the matter is closed."
Effenberg's future remained unclear after the 33-year-old turned down an offer from English first division Manchester City. The former
German international said he was talking to three clubs, among them Galatasaray.
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