Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich attends a training session at Saebener Strasse training ground in Munich, Germany, March 12, 2020. /VCG
Former center back of the German national football team Jerome Boateng was fined by his club, Bayern Munich of Bundesliga, for leaving Munich without approval amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The German club said proceeds from the fine will go to local hospitals.
According to BILD, Boateng departed Munich for Leipzig to see his son Jermar in hospital. He said he will "accept every fine" because the health of his boy matters the most to him.
Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich dribbles the ball in the Bundesliga game against FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, March 8, 2020. /VCG
"I accept every fine in the world if it is justified. And I know that it was certainly a mistake not to let the club know about my trip, but at that moment I was just thinking of my son," said Boateng. "His health was not good. When a son calls his father, then of course I'll still go, no matter what time. I accept every fine for him, after all, that's my son. I want to see the father which doesn't leave in such a moment to be with his four-year old son. I think it's sad."
Besides the fine, Boateng also suffered a traffic incident. When he was driving near Selbitz in northern Bavaria, he ran into a hailstorm. As his Mercedes did not have winter tyres, the car lost traction and skidded into the motorway barrier.
Jerome Boateng #17 of Germany is ejected after referee Szymon Marciniak shows him a red card in the group game against Sweden at the FIFA World Cup at Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, June 23, 2018. /VCG
According to local police, Boateng was neither speeding not injured in the accident. However, it could cost him some 25,000 euros (about 27,341 U.S. dollars) to repair his car.
Boateng was slipping in the past three years and he was expelled from the German national team after his disappointing performance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. There were rumors about Bayern willing to sell him during the past five transfer windows and the club did not negotiate with him over a new deal. His contract will come due on June 30, 2021.