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Bayern Munich is considering legal steps against the Canadian Soccer Federation after star full-back Alphonso Davies suffered a serious knee injury during Canada’s Concacaf Nations League third-place match against the United States on Sunday.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen voiced the club’s concerns, stating: “We demand a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Davies' injury from Canada Soccer and explicitly reserve the right to pursue legal action.” His comments were published by German outlet Bild on Friday.
Davies, 23, sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) along with additional knee damage in the early minutes of Canada’s 2-1 victory over the U.S. The injury, confirmed upon his return to Munich, will sideline him for several months, a major blow to both club and country.
Bayern officials allege that the Canadian team mishandled Davies' condition by allowing him to start in what they consider a low-stakes match. Both Canada and the U.S. had already been eliminated from title contention, with Canada falling to eventual champions Mexico in the semi-finals and the U.S. losing to Panama.
Dreesen criticized the decision to field Davies, given that he had reportedly been dealing with muscular discomfort before the match. “It is completely unacceptable that a clearly injured player was made to endure a 12-hour flight without undergoing a thorough medical evaluation,” he said. “This represents gross negligence and a failure of medical duty of care.”
Bayern’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, echoed these concerns, stating that the post-injury treatment Davies received was inadequate. “Phonzy had already expressed fatigue after Canada’s previous game,” Freund said. “Yet he was still put on the field, and within minutes, he suffered a severe injury. The way this was handled was careless and unprofessional.”
Davies’ agent, Nick Huoseh, also criticized Canada Soccer, claiming that the medical staff failed to take appropriate precautions. “Alphonso had already stated he wasn’t fit to start. This could have been prevented entirely,” Huoseh told local media.
The injury comes at a crucial time for Bayern, who are dealing with a growing list of absentees. The club is currently in contention for both the Bundesliga title and a deep Champions League run, with a crucial quarter-final clash against Inter Milan looming. French center-back Dayot Upamecano also returned from international duty with a knee injury, further complicating Bayern’s defensive situation.
Despite Bayern’s accusations, Canada Soccer has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson for the federation, Paulo Senra, defended the team’s medical staff, saying: “Our coaches and medical professionals always prioritize player safety. Any claims suggesting otherwise are simply incorrect.”
With Davies set to miss the remainder of the season, Bayern is expected to seek financial compensation through FIFA’s injury insurance policy, which covers national team injuries up to $7.5 million per case. However, the club remains adamant about holding Canada Soccer accountable for what they believe was a preventable situation.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / Alexa, Pexels / Red Nguyen
