Netherlands, Bayern hammer out Robben compromise

Netherlands, Bayern hammer out Robben compromise

Published Feb. 2, 2011 2:52 p.m. ET

World Cup finalist the Netherlands and Bayern Munich agreed on Wednesday to play each other next year as a way of ''burying the hatchet'' in their long-running dispute over injured winger Arjen Robben.

The friendly will be on May 22, 2012, at Bayern's Allianz Arena.

The two sides also agreed to disagree in their dispute over compensation for Robben's left hamstring injury.

Robben was hurt just before the World Cup but treatment allowed him to play in the latter stages. Then he was sidelined for months.

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Bayern said he aggravated the injury in South Africa, and the club sought compensation.

''We have accepted that we are going to disagree. Then it is a matter of burying the hatchet and finding a solution that is favorable for both sides,'' Netherlands director of football Bert van Oostveen said.

Bayern director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said both sides were pleased to have hammered out ''a satisfactory solution.''

Robben played his first match since the World Cup on Jan. 15 as a substitute in Bayern's 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg.

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