Lehmann in trouble over TV interview

STUTTGART - VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is facing sanctions from his club following a television interview in which he suggested the management had weakly bowed to pressure from a minority of fans in sacking coach Markus Babbel.

“We won’t put up with that. Of course, there will be consequences,” Stuttgart sports director Horst Held told Sky Sports Wednesday.

Held said Lehmann’s remarks in an interview with the same broadcaster were “charactized by pure egoism”.

Germany’s former national keeper, who was in goal for Stuttgart against Unirea Urziceni in the Champions had told Sky Sports that club managements should not be so easily influenced by fans.

Babbel was sacked on Sunday a day after around 100 fans had blocked the team bus before the match with VfL Bochum and several thousand protested outside the stadium after the 1-1 draw.

“There was a certain bunch of fans, most of whom are just going through puberty, and that’s what influenced the club in making certain decisions. That’s the way it is in football,” Lehmann said.

“It’s now up to the club to decide how to deal with those groups of supporters. If they decide to give in to every demand, it will soon become difficult not to do what the supporters want.”

Lehmann also criticized a decision to scrap the free day he enjoyed after games.

“It seems there were people on the board who were bothered by the fact I didn’t also come for regeneration training after games,” he said.

“In my experience in football one should you always listen to the weak in the club but never do want the weak want because then you will never have success.”