Bayern fine Kufour $5000 for talking to Barcelona

Bayern Munich have fined Ghana's Samuel Kuffour nearly $5,000 for talking to a Barcelona representative while still under contract to them. The German champions have refused to consider freeing the defender from his contract wich runs until 2003.

"This really isn't on," Bayern manager Uli Hoeness said on Monday. "We've slapped a 10,000-mark fine on him to bring him to his senses."

Kuffour said in January that Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld had rejected an offer from Barcelona -- reported in German media at some $17 million -- and ruled out releasing the 24-year-old defender. Hoeness was also critical of the Spanish club's president, Joan Gaspart, whom he blamed for sending former German international Bernd Schuster to talk to Kuffour in an expensive Munich restaurant last week. "Mr Gaspart will be getting another stiff letter from us,"

Hoeness said. "He should keep his hands off our players."

Bayern have been going through a troubled period with president Franz Beckenbauer questioning the players' commitment after a series of poor results.

They host Arsenal on Wednesday in the European Champions League, still requiring a point from the final game of the second group phase to be sure of a quarter-final berth after they were thrashed 3-0 at Olympique Lyon last week. The club's injury problems, compounded by the suspension of captain and playmaker Stefan Effenberg, mounted on Monday when French defender Willy Sagnol was ruled out with a thigh strain. Brazilian striker Paolo Sergio was also doubtful.