Wolfsburg hit Diego with six-figure fine: report

Posted Thursday, June 23, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

BERLIN (AFP) - Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg have hit bad-boy Brazil midfielder Diego with a huge fine of 500,000 euros (720,262 US dollars) for storming out on his side at the end of last season, according to reports.

Having been dropped by coach Felix Magath for the final game at Hoffenheim in May, playmaker Diego quit the team hotel and missed his team's 3-1 victory which ensured their German league survival.

According to German magazine Sport Bild, the 26-year-old has been fined half a million euros—a month's salary—and has been reprimanded for his behaviour.

The club confirmed they had hit him with the maximum penalty, but refused to specify the amount.

Diego is expected to report for training on Friday when the German league club begin preparations for next season.

Having won 34 caps for Brazil, this is the second time Diego landed himself in hot water with Wolfsburg last season.

In February, he decided to take a penalty himself—against the instructions of then-coach Steve McClaren—which he missed against Hanover.

The penalty miss condemned Wolfsburg to a 1-0 defeat and McClaren was sacked in the wake of the result.

According to press reports, Wolfsburg would be willing to sell Diego for at least 10 million euros, having signed him from Juventus for 15 million euros in August 2010.