Munich: Bayern Munich has accused Canada Soccer of gross negligence after Alphonso Davies returned from international duty with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury that will sideline him for at least six months.

Davies, 24, was injured just 12 minutes into Canada’s 2-1 victory over the United States in the Concacaf Nations League third-place play-off on Sunday. Despite initial assessments by Canada Soccer clearing Davies of serious injury, a medical examination upon his return to Munich revealed the torn ACL.

Bayern Criticizes Canada Soccer’s Handling of Davies’ Injury

During a press conference on Friday, Bayern Munich’s sporting director Christoph Freund strongly criticized Canada Soccer’s handling of the situation, describing their actions as “borderline” and “negligent.”

Freund expressed frustration over Canada’s decision to allow Davies to board a 12-hour flight back to Germany without conducting a thorough medical assessment. “The way things went down was incorrect. We are the employer and also pay the players, so we will investigate this matter,” Freund said.

Bayern CEO Threatens Legal Action

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen echoed Freund’s concerns and warned that the club might pursue legal action against Canada Soccer. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Dreesen called Canada Soccer’s decision “grossly negligent” and emphasized that the club was seeking “complete clarification of the events.”

Dreesen criticized the decision to allow Davies to travel such a long distance without a thorough medical assessment. “Sending an obviously injured player with a damaged knee on a twelve-hour intercontinental flight without a proper medical evaluation is, in our view, grossly negligent and a clear breach of medical duty of care,” Dreesen said.

Concern for Davies’ Future Amid World Cup 2026 Preparations

Dreesen also pointed out the risk Canada took by allowing Davies, their captain and one of their most valuable players, to travel despite the injury. “Phonzy is not at fault. He’s the captain and wants to take responsibility. But Canada, as the host nation of the 2026 World Cup, is already qualified and cannot afford to take risks with a player like him,” Dreesen remarked.

Davies, who is regarded as one of the top defenders in the world, signed a new five-year contract with Bayern Munich in February, ending speculation about a potential move to Real Madrid.

Davies’ Injury a Major Blow to Bayern

Davies’ absence is a significant blow to Bayern Munich as the club enters a critical stage of the season. Bayern is also dealing with the loss of French center-back Dayot Upamecano, who sustained a long-term leg injury during the international break. Additionally, the team is still without their captain, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, further complicating the squad’s defensive stability.

Bayern’s Call for Accountability

Bayern Munich has emphasized the importance of ensuring that international federations uphold their duty of care when managing the fitness of professional players. Freund underscored that “clubs invest heavily in their players, and it is unacceptable for players to return from international duty with serious injuries due to poor decision-making by national federations.”

Bayern has reportedly requested detailed medical reports from Canada Soccer and is considering formal complaints to both FIFA and Concacaf regarding the mishandling of Davies’ injury.

Canada Soccer Yet to Respond

As of now, Canada Soccer has not issued an official response to Bayern Munich’s accusations. However, sources indicate that the organization is preparing to release a statement addressing the situation and providing its account of the events surrounding Davies’ injury.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching and Canada set to co-host the tournament, concerns about the management of top players’ health and fitness could have broader implications for the Canadian national team’s preparations.