Bayern to miss 2 Brazilians in German Cup final

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich defender Dante and midfielder Luiz Gustavo will miss the German Cup final on Saturday against Stuttgart because they have to report to Brazil for the Confederations Cup.

The German Football Federation and Bayern both criticized the Brazilian Football Confederation for being "stubborn" and for putting the two players under "inhuman" pressure.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said Thursday the Champions League winners will release the two players immediately in order to avoid strife with the Brazilian federation.

Brazil has insisted Dante and Luiz Gustavo arrive by Saturday.

Brazil assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said the Bayern duo must report 14 days before the Confederations Cup opener, as required by FIFA, otherwise they would be dropped from the team.

"They are surely disappointed that they can't help us. It's not a good solution, it's sad," Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.

Bayern is seeking an unprecedented treble for a German club. It also won the Bundesliga before clinching the Champions League last week over Borussia Dortmund.

"As a player, you work all year to be able to play in such a final," Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said.

Rummenigge said Dante and Luiz Gustavo had been under the impression that their Brazil careers would be over if they did not show up on time.

"You can imagine what that means to Brazilians and their relationship to the national team," Rummenigge said. "I find the pressure inhuman, a bit without scruples and a bit unfair."

The German Football Federation said it was aware of the late date for the cup final but that it had hoped for a deal with whatever national federation was involved.

"We can't justify that they've been so stubborn," German federation general secretary Helmut Sandrock said.

Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia didn't think the absence of two Brazilians would make a difference.

"They have two or three equally good players for each position," Labbadia said. "I find it a pity that they were prevented from making such a wonderful experience of the German Cup final in Berlin. It's an incomprehensible decision by the Brazilian federation."