The Schalke 04 management have held talks with Rafinha over his participation in the Olympic tournament against their express wishes. But the meeting was focussed solely on the extent of his fine.
The Schalke 04 management have held talks with Rafinha over his participation in the Olympic tournament against their express wishes. But the meeting was focussed solely on the extent of his fine.
“We had already discussed the matter before the game at Atletico Madrid”, said sporting director Andreas Müller. “So he knew we'd be talking about a fine. And it will be a hefty one, by anyone's standards.”
“In being away for so long he has breached the terms of his contract in several respects”, Müller continued, “and as I see it, with this measure we're also sending out an important message within the team that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
FA to cough up
Müller added that Rafinha was taking it all “in his stride”, not least perhaps because the Brazilian FA have assured the defender that they will pay any outstanding fine.
A few scattered whistles aside, there was little in the way of a backlash against the player when he ran out for the Bochum game. “The fans are sensitive to these things, and they know he laways gives his all for the team on the pitch. On top of which, it was the Brazilian FA who pressured him into breaching his contract. But that doesn't alter the fact that he'll be fined”, Müller said.
Against club's wishes
Rafinha met up with the Brazilian squad in Paris to head out to the Olympics in mid-July, contrary to the wishes of the Schalke management. Although the club were not obliged to release him, he was gone for more than a month, missing the DFB Cup game against Homburg, the first leg of the Champions League qualifier against Atletico Madrid and the league opener against Hannover.
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