Loew angered by Bayern friendly

Plans by Bayern Munich to play a friendly match with the Netherlands on May 22, have upset Germany coach Joachim Loew.

Loew was reported to be angry with the timing of the fixture, which is in the midst of his Euro 2012 preparations.

On Friday, future DFB (German FA) boss Wolfgang Niersbach voiced his intent to negotiate with the Bavarian club to change their agreement. However, those talks were apparently made in vain.

“Bayern are surprised by the DFB’s statements. The German Football Association, the Dutch Football Association [KNVB], and UEFA helped collaborate on the scheduling of this game,” a Bayern press release read.

Loew will begin preparations for Euro 2012 on May 11, when his squad will start to assemble.

The DFB Pokal final is to be held two days later, and with the Champions League final set for May 19, it is possible – if uncertain – that several among his squad will not be available for quite some time before the tournament.

But with the Bayern v Netherlands friendly scheduled for May 22 in Munich, it is certain that eight Germany internationals, assuming they are nominated to Low’s team, will arrive late to Loew’s training camp in Sardinia.

A contract between the club and the Netherlands requires that the teams include as many players as are fit.

The friendly is scheduled to serve as the conclusion of a dispute between Bayern and the Netherlands over an injury sustained by Dutch winger Arjen Robben during the 2010 World Cup.

After the tournament, the player returned to his club with a torn hamstring, prompting the Bavarians to claim foul play by the KNVB.

The sides could not reach an agreement over monetary compensation, and instead decided to play a friendly match to help Bayern recover wages lost in the player’s absence.