Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has called on the German Football Federation to take action against Jens Lehmann.

The veteran Stuttgart and former Germany goalkeeper has earned the wrath of Bayern after suggesting that they have been the beneficiaries of generous refereeing decisions at times this season.

Lehmann's comments have further stoked up the atmosphere ahead of Saturday's final-day meeting of the two sides after which Bayern could be crowned champions.

"Jens Lehmann is accusing referees of manipulation and deception. That is ridiculous," said Rummenigge.

"I am interested to see how the DFB react to the issue.

"Of course Jens has an agenda. He wants to turn the atmosphere against us."


[The Independent]

Jens Lehmann has caused a stir by claiming Stuttgart's title rivals have benefited from favourable refereeing decisions and his side would have already been crowned champions had it not been for the officials.

The 39-year-old former Germany goalkeeper believes Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg, who need only a point to be crowned champions for the first time in their history next weekend, get all the luck.

"Wolfsburg have also benefited from refereeing decisions," he said. "I have never seen them having to accept negative decisions."

Bayern Munich, who lie in a share of second place with Stuttgart, have also been on the receiving end of refereeing help according to Lehmann, who does not expect the best of welcomes when he goes to the Allianz Arena for the final game of the season on Saturday.

"Bayern get some decisions in their favour which would go against us but, as a player, you cannot do anything about such decisions," he added. "If the decisions were all normal, we would already be champions."

"We are hoping for a good referee's performance in Munich on Saturday. I am sure I am not going to get a fantastic reception there."

Saturday's clash could prove a play-off for Champions League football, with the loser potentially having to settle for the Europa League.

And Stuttgart midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has joined in on the mind games by increasing the pressure on Bayern.

"We want to get into the Champions League but for them it as an absolute must," he said.

Bayern lead Stuttgart only on goal difference with both sides two points behind Wolfsburg, who host Werder Bremen on Saturday and need only to extend their unbeaten home record for the season by one more game to be crowned champions.

Hertha Berlin are one point behind Bayern and Stuttgart and know a win would take them into the Champions League.


[Soccernet]

Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has signed a one-year extension to his contract with Bundesliga side Stuttgart.

The 39-year-old's current deal was due to expire in the summer, but he will now play on for another year.

''VfB (Stuttgart) are a well-run club with great fans and a positive environment,'' Lehmann said at a press conference on Friday.

''I enjoy playing here. I am looking forward to next season, but now we are concentrating on finishing the present campaign as successfully as possible.''

Lehmann had previously said his decision to play on depended on whether Stuttgart would be able to offer him European football next season.

With nine games of the season remaining, the 2007 Bundesliga champions sit just outside of the top five and are on course for a place in the inaugural Europa League.

Lehmann joined Stuttgart on a free transfer from Arsenal last summer, initially on a one-year deal.

Good ol' Lehmann is at it again. This time, he's threatening to quit the Bundesliga because the refereeing in the Bundesliga is so bad.

The 39-year-old former Arsenal player, who returned to Germany this season after five years in the Premier League, was booked by referee Babak Rafati in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Rafati allowed two controversial goals - one for either side - to stand, leaving Lehmann wondering if there are no better officials in Germany.

''We all have reason to be not too happy with the performance of the referee,'' he told Premiere television after the match.

''I kept asking myself what on earth he was blowing for. These are referees for us and not for the two people in the stands who are writing a report about him.What that man did was unbelievable.''

Lehmann was furious at the yellow card he received, his third of the season for dissent.

''There was a situation in which a Frankfurt player feigned an injury so we could not launch a counter-attack,'' he added.''The referee said he had to stop play for the injury and then the man stands up and doesn't even leave the field to be treated.

''I told the referee, 'Look! There he goes!' and he shows me a yellow card - incredible. That was so bad that I may as well not bother playing in future. I did not even say anything nasty to the referee.

''Surely there are better ones. I am sorry, but things cannot go on like this. This is sad for the whole of the Bundesliga.''

Maybe this is the chance to get Lehmann to retire. I'd say the Bundesliga should hire more bad refrees!

German coach Joachim Löw has informed Jens Lehman, that he will not nominate the 38-year old former goalkepper of the German national team for a farewell-appearance in the game against England on November 19.

Following the personal talk with Lehmann, Löw said: “Our group of young keepers needs the experience of these international matches. Obviously, a final appearance in the England game would have been a nice gesture towards Jens.

"Even more so, because Jens spend five years in Arsenal, and every fan remembers his heroic deeds in the Berlin Olympiastadion during the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina. All this considered, our team goals had to be given priority.”

Löw also praised Lehmann’s achievements wearing the Germany jersey. Lehmann played his final international in the EURO final against Spain in Vienna on June 29, 2008. He has been capped 61 times for Germany.

“Jens has done much for German football. During our four years working together, he has always been an important sounding board. I have been impressed by his leadership and his professionalism throughout.

"He was able to focus to the point, whether during practice sessions or in the games. I have met few players, who were able to contribute in such a positive and effective way."

Jens Lehmann announced his retirement from the German national team following a talk with DFB-coach Joachim Löw and goalkeepers coach Andreas Köpke on Friday. The 38-year old Lehmann was given his debut on February 18, 1998, in a game against the Emirate of Oman. His career encompassed 61 international appearances as well as three World Cups and three European Championships.

During the two-hour talk, Jens Lehmann and Joachim Löw agreed that the time has come for some of the younger talents to guard the German goal, especially looking forward to South Africa 2010. Following the meeting, Löw said: “We had a very good discussion. Evaluating the situation, we were on the exact same wavelength. I thanked Jens for his great career in our team. Fans will always remember his fantastic saves in our win over Argentina at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also played a pivotal role at the EURO this year. He has done so much for German football, and I chose to consult him in the most important matters.”

Jens Lehmann said: “I could not give Joachim Löw any guarantees that I would extend my career beyond this one year, for which I have signed a contract with the VfB Stuttgart. Therefore I offered Löw and Köpke my resignation. I had a great run in the national team. These last few years in England, the national team had been my contact home. More than any other event, I will always remember the 2006 World Cup.”

Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has hinted he may try to play at the World Cup in South Africa in two years' time.

The 39-year-old was widely expected to announce his retirement from international football after this summer's European Championships but he sees no reason why he cannot continue.

'I will discuss this issue in the near future with (Germany coach) Joachim Loew and to talk about it before then would be form, but I can live with the speculation,' said Lehmann, who moved to Stuttgart from Arsenal on a one-year contract this summer.

'Which player between the age of 18 and 40 can predict whether they will still be playing as well in two years anyway?

'I would even be prepared to (sit on the bench) at a World Cup. I would never say never.

'We will have to see what happens (after this year).'

National goalkeeper Jens Lehmann returns to Germany. Following the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, the 38-year old Lehmann rejoins the Bundesliga, where he will play for the 2005/2006 champions VfB Stuttgart. Currently under contract with FC Arsenal London, Lehmann signed a one-year contract with Stuttgart late Tuesday afternoon.

"I felt very comfortable throughout the negotiations with Stuttgart’s management. I look forward to Stuttgart, where I will try to contribute my share to a successful season", said Lehmann, who arrived in the German base camp in Ascona on Tuesday.

Stuttgart’s coach Armin Veh applauded the transfer: "Jens had always been our first choice. We all know about his qualities, while our team will feed off his tremendous experience."

Lehmann has played 329 games in the Bundesliga (Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund) and should replace Raphael Schäfer in Stuttgart. Lehmann (55 caps) had his debut for Germany in a 2-0 win over Oman on February 18, 1998. As the team’s no. 1 keeper, he finished in third place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Former Germany number one Oliver Kahn has challenged Jens Lehmann's claim that the Euro 2008 ball deviates in the air.

Lehmann has admitted he is struggling to adjust to the flight of the new ball after conceding two soft goals in Germany's surprise 2-2 with Belarus on Tuesday. The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who hardly featured for the London club last season, feels he needs more time to get used to the movement of the ball.

But Kahn, Lehmann's rival for the number one spot leading up to the 2006 World Cup, insists that there is no problem with the ball. The former Bayern Munich keeper, who retired at the end of this season, told the Bild newspaper: 'At Bayern Munich we played all of our home games in the second half of the season with the this Euro ball. And I have to say, it is clearly better than its predecessors.' He added: 'It is covered on the outside with minute bumps. They provide the goalkeepers with a firmness of grip. I also cannot say for sure that the ball deviates in flight if the wind suddenly turns. But the ball is of course seriously quick - an advantage for the attackers.'

Germany's goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has admitted that he is struggling to adjust to the new ball that will be used at Euro 2008. The official Euro 2008 ball, dubbed the Europass, is made by Adidas and has a new surface structure which the makers say creates greater swerve.



The 14-panels of the Europass have been joined together using Adidas' revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology, which - along with the unique PSC-Texture surface structure - is supposed to ensure exceptional ball control, greater power transmission, swerve and accuracy, in all types of weather.

Lehmann's performance in Tuesday's friendly with Belarus was widely criticized as Germany let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2. Lehmann, who has scarcely featured for his club this season, conceded twice in the last 30 minutes to Vitali Bulyga to once again raise questions over his suitability as the number one keeper for Germany in Austria and Switzerland.

And Lehmann revealed this week that he was finding the movement of the new ball difficult to cope with. Speaking to Kicker magazine, he said: 'The ball is very difficult for me. I only trained with it for the first time a week ago. It is once again different to the ones before it. I had a situation in the first half (against Belarus) where I wanted to hold on to the ball - and then it started to move around. I hope in the coming days, when also my freshness will come back, that I then have a bit of time for a lot of shot training in order to get more familiar with the ball.'

Low admitted Lehmann is still short of match practice, but claimed he had no intention of dropping him. He told the German FA's official website: 'You can sense that he needs games. He will definitely play in goal against Serbia on Saturday. We still trust him.' The Germany coach has included Hannover's Robert Enke and uncapped Bayer Leverkusen youngster Rene Adler as the other two goalkeepers on his squad.

Lehmann has not been the only goalkeeper to have complained about the new ball. The two goalkeepers on Italy's Euro 2008 squad, Gianluigi Buffon and Marco Amelia, have also spoken out against the ball, with Amerlia calling the flight of the ball "erratic". The build-up to big tournaments is often dominated by goalkeepers worrying about new balls, which are brought out especially for the events.

Edit: Here's an interesting video about how the Europass ball is made.

The shortlist of the FIFA World Player of the Year award has been released.

Michael Ballack, Miroslav Klose, Philippe Lahm and Jens Lehmann are the 4 German players nominated for this year's prize which will be awarded in Zurich on December 18. Ballack and Lehmann play in the English Premier League for Chelsea and Arsenal while Klose and Lahm ply their trade in the German Bundesliga for Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich respectively.

However, this year's competition is expected to come down to a contest between Fabio Cannavaro, captain of World Cup winners Italy, and Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry, a losing finalist in both the Champions League and the World Cup.

The head coaches and captains of all national teams will now vote for their best players from the shortlist.

FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist:

Adriano (Inter Milan, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Luis Figo (Inter Milan, Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Germany), Philippe Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, Germany), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Marseille, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal, Czech Republic), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea, Ukraine), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan, France), Zinedine Zidane (retired, France).