Bayern Munich sporting executive Matthias Sammer has hit back at Bochum coach Gertjan Verbeek after he accused Arjen Robben of diving in the DFB Pokal quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Just before half-time of Bayern's 3-0 win, Robben fell to the ground inside the penalty box when substitute Jan Simunek, who had come on for Timo Perthel after a collision with Robben, tried to stop the Netherlands star from breaking clear towards goal.
Referee Bastian Dankert awarded a penalty to Bayern, with Simunek dismissed, although Muller's shot was parried by goalkeeper Manuel Riemann.
Speaking after the game, Bochum's Dutch coach Verbeek said: "He's Dutch, we all are used to this by Robben. It's certainly not a red card. Football is a contact sport. He flops, that's a dive, and a free kick for us."
Robben said that "it was a penalty and a red card," and added that there "is no discussion about" the existing FIFA rules that force the referee to also award a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity -- a rule Pep Guardiola called "ridiculous" on the postmatch news conference.
On Thursday, Bayern Munich's sporting executive Sammer responded to Verbeek, calling his criticism of Robben "outrageous."
"You might discuss the red card. But we think Mr. Verbeek's comments are outrageous," Sammer said. "You can't discredit Robben as the opponent's coach like that, and even get on a personal level."
"He can't attack a player like he has done it. As a coach he is a role model. And I concede emotions to a coach, but there were cast-iron facts."
Sammer praised Robben, who had also wished Bochum all the best in postmatch interviews, as "one of the most honest professionals I ever got to know."