The truth battle surrounding Alphonso Davies' (25) torn ligament seems to be heading towards a legal fight. Bayern Munich has issued a warning to Jesse Marsch, the Canadian national team coach, and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA).

On the 28th (Korean time), Germany's 'BR 24' reported that "after Alphonso Davies' ligament injury, sports director Christoph Proeint seems to have been more sensitive than usual. He sharply criticized the Canadian Soccer Association and demanded reform of the match schedule."

Bayern will face St. Pauli in the 27th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga home game held at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on the 29th. Bayern is currently leading the league with 62 points, ahead of second-place Bayer Leverkusen by 6 points (56 points).

However, ahead of the match, consecutive bad news occurred. In the March international match, left-back Davies and center-back Dayot Upamecano were ruled out for the season. Bayern has suddenly lost half of its four main defenders.

Bayern director Max Eberl sighed, saying, "Unfortunately, there is always a risk that players will return injured during the international break. This time, it’s a significant blow. The absence of Davies and Upamecano is a heavy burden for Bayern."

Davies' injury is particularly severe. He was called up to the Canadian national team and injured his knee in the third-place playoff against the United States in the 2024 North American Caribbean Football Association (CONCACAF) Nations League held on the 24th. He started the match but collapsed due to injury just 12 minutes into the game.

After the match, Davies was seen walking alone, but after undergoing a thorough examination in Munich, it was discovered he had a torn ligament. The rehabilitation period is expected to last a whopping 6 months.

Bayern explained, "Davies was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after returning from the Canadian national team. He is scheduled to undergo surgery today and is not expected to be seen for the next few months."

The burden on Kim Min-jae has increased. He has been struggling with Achilles pain since October last year and recently collapsed. However, with the defense devastated, Kim Min-jae is expected to return immediately. He will likely team up with Eric Dier starting from the match against St. Pauli.

Furthermore, revelations have emerged that Davies' injury could have been prevented. Nick Huse, Davies' agent, publicly criticized Coach Marsch. Marsch had been mentioned as a strong candidate to succeed Jurgen Klinsmann, who was dismissed from the Korean national team last year, but he took charge of the Canadian national team.

Huse said, "I think Coach Marsch should have handled the situation better. The injury could have been avoided 100%." He added, "Before taking over Canada, Marsch managed at the highest levels. He must understand that players who say they cannot play should not be put at risk."

He also stated, "I believe Davies felt pressured by Coach Marsch as the captain. He isn't someone who would reject such moments. Ultimately, Davies played in the match, and they saw what happened." He expressed anger, saying, "Players' health should come first. The national team must better protect the players."

Philipp Kessler, a reporter for Germany's 'TZ,' echoed similar sentiments. He stated, "Davies should not have played in the match against the United States. I was surprised to see him included in the starting lineup because he said he could not start. According to sources from the Canadian federation, Davies indicated that he should only play for a few minutes. I said he should not play at all."

Moreover, it was also reported that the Canadian national team did not accurately assess how severe Davies' injury was. He even endured a 12-hour long-haul flight that could exacerbate the injury.

However, the examination after Davies arrived at Bayern revealed a torn ligament. This left Bayern, which thought it was only a minor injury, in shock.

Of course, the CAS refuted Huse's accusations. A CAS Spokesperson stated, "The coaching staff and skilled medical personnel of Canadian soccer are true experts. They have always prioritized the safety and welfare of the players. Any claims to the contrary are not true." However, it is an obvious mistake not to have identified Davies' torn ligament in advance.

In response, Bayern seems to be preparing for legal action. Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen warned, "We demand a full explanation from the Canadian Soccer Association regarding the incident. We also clearly reserve the right to take legal action."

He added, "Putting an injured player on a 12-hour flight without a proper examination is a serious error. It clearly violates the duty of care in medical practice."

Director General Christoph Proeint also spoke at a press conference. He said, "It's really bitter. It's not the right way," adding, "Davies complained of fatigue and seems to have agreed not to play in the match. Of course, he might have stated that he wanted to play. But Davies is a captain and a young player who wants to help his country. Yet he collapsed due to injury just 12 minutes in."

Furthermore, Director General Proeint remarked, "Davies returned after a 12-hour flight. We thought it was a minor injury, but it turned out to be serious. This is a very careless and unprofessional approach. It should not happen." He emphasized, "We need to investigate the incident and clarify what happened."

[Photo] ⓒGetty Images (reprint and redistribution prohibited), Sky Sports, ESPN FC social media.

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