Pizarro international row

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1361 votes: 2

09.10.2006

Claudio Pizarro will be the first Bayern player to return from international duty when he arrives back in Munich on Tuesday. The Peruvian decided not to play in the second of two friendlies against Chile on Wednesday in Tacna, Peru and started his journey back to Germany on Sunday.

Days before the “Blanquirroja“ were defeated 3-2 in Viña del Mar (Chile). Pizarro, normally a regular player in the Peruvian national team, came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute and netted 21 minutes later to make the final score 3-2.

Own decision

In Peru, national coach Franco Navarro’s decision for Pizarro to start on the bench against Chile is seen as a disciplinary measure. Before the double-header against Chile Pizarro had said that he was only available for the first match so that he could return to Germany in time for Bayern’s important Bundesliga fixture on Saturday against Hertha BSC Berlin.

The second match takes place on Wednesday night. If Pizarro had stayed for that game he wouldn’t arrive back in Munich until Friday and would probably have lost his place in the starting line-up against Hertha.

On the bench as punishment

Pizarro’s decision upset not only the national coach but also diverse Peruvian football (FPF) functionaries. Navarro announced that he was not aware of any such agreement and left his attacker to stew on the bench for over an hour.

Pizarro’s choice of only playing in the in the first game has started a row over the striker in Peru. FPF President Manuel Burga insisted that Pizarro should play both games because he had not received an official request from Bayern Munich to release the player from international duty. And Pizarro told his club that he would organise his release from the second match himself.

International retirement for Pizarro?

In the Andean country there is talk that Pizarro played only one game due to pressure from Bayern Munich. Because of the differences with the Peruvian football authorities the media is already speculating about the 28-year old’s retirement from the national team.

MUTU