DORTMUND. Germany. Oct 9: Struggling European Cup champions Borussia Dortmund plunged further into crisis here on Wednesday as the directors fined Internationals Juergen Kohler and Stefan Reuter for criticising Italian coach Nevio Scala, reports AFP.

The directors of Dortmund, who be I6th in the Bundesliga, fined the players 5.000 marks (2.860 dollars) for attacking Scala, hired to replace Ottmar Hitzfeld. coach of the side who beat Juventus to win the European Cup last season, after the 3-1 defeat to Arminia Bielefeld last Saturday.

Reuter, a member of the 1990 and 1994 World Cup final squads, shouted at Scala that he had made countless errors in his substitutions during the game — Kohler, like Reuter a star of the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, supported his teammate.

It is not the first time that Scala, who made his name in taking Parma out of Serie B for the first time ever and later coaching them the Cup Winners' Cup and Italian Cup. has been subjected to criticism by the ageing stars of Dortmund.

Playmaker Andreas Moller, who Inspired Germany to the Euro '96 final where he couldn't play because he was suspended, had disagreed with the Italian over being moved from midfield to a forward role — Moller won his argument and stayed in midfield.

Scala's problems mounted also with the announcement that German Internationa] Airs Rlcken will be out for up to six weeks after undergoing an operation on his right foot.

Rlcken. who scored for Dortmund in their European Cup triumph. Joins Brazilian defender Julio Cesar. Portuguese midfielder Paulo Sousa and inspirational sweeper Matthias Sammer, who underwent an examination on his left knee on Wedne«d.iv on the side lines