Rafinha Fined $1,000,000 by Schalke

Shalke have fined their right back Rafinha $1,000,000. His crime? Going AWOL from club duty to represent Brazil at the Olympics.

Rafinha is basically a victim of the CAS ruling that clubs didn’t have to release under-23 players for Olympic duty. But still, one million dollars? That’s a hefty sum even for a top flight footballer.

He was actually fined €700,000, but since the euro is strong like bull and the dollar is weak like kitten, it works out at just over $1 million (which, lets face it, makes a better headline.)

In any currency, that amount of money is going to sting. And if I was Rafinha I’d be tempted to tell Schalke to find a new fullback. But if Rafinha starts feeling too sorry for himself then someone should show him how much Adrian Mutu owes Chelsea.

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Category: Bundesliga