Dejan Stefanovic, FIFPro Chief from Slovenia has lambasted Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho for his seemingly ridiculous treatment of German veteran Bastian Schweinsteiger. Schweinsteiger’s future at Old Trafford is in question but the humiliation served to him has drawn remarks from across the world. While Schweinsteiger’s brother and Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have scrutinised Jose Mourinho’s management, Stefanovic feels the manager should be sued and sent to prison for his ill approach.
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Schweinsteiger was asked to leave the club by Mourinho since he doesn’t fit into his plans. Furthermore, it became a controversy when the German was forced to vacate his first-team locker and train with the Manchester United U-23 reserves. Rubbing salt in the wound, the former Germany captain was excluded from Mourinho's 25-man squad for the friendly against Galatasaray in Gothenburg and was not included in the 22 for Wayne Rooney's testimonial with Everton at Old Trafford.
Dejan Stefanovic, lawyer and FifPro board member, told BBC World Service Sport: “It’s clear bullying. In Slovenia, we would have indicted Mourinho and asked for the highest penalty – three years in prison.
“This is clearly meant to discourage Bastian. Mourinho is setting a bad example. I would take it to the ordinary court. In our case, the penal code is quite clear. If there is bullying and harassment, there’s a prison sanction, a maximum of three years in prison.
“Schweinsteiger should turn to the Professional Footballers’ Association and he should file a complaint and I would also seek penalty for Mourinho.”
“All the players of the first team have to train with the coaches of the first team at the same place, at the same time as all other team-mates. That’s something that should be applied to each and every club and should be written within Fifa regulations.”
Also Read: Transfer Rumours: Milan clubs interested in Schweinsteiger
When contacted by BBC, Manchester United refrained from commenting on Dejan Stefanovic’s statement. Meanwhile, the Red Devil fans also joined the criticism of their manager as they filled Jose Mourinho’s Instagram comments section expressing displeasure. One of the fans even called Mourinho “an idiot” for his act.
Schweinsteiger's brother, Toby, who is assistant manager of Bayern Munich's Under-17s team, took to Twitter on the day Manchester United beat Galatasaray 5-2, expressing his discontent precisely. He said: "No respect."
Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, also added showing resentment as he told German publication Bild: "One or two players are going to think long and hard in future about whether they want to go to such a club."
