• MUNICH. Germany. Sept 8: What began as a joke a few days ago turned serious for Bayern Munich's controversial midfielder Mario Basler on Tuesday as he hobbled out of the practice of club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, reports AFP.

The patella ligament in Basler's left knee has torn and it will keep him off the pitch for at least six weeks.

Basler hurt himself last Friday during a charity match against Bavarian second division rivals Nuremberg and limped off after half an hour. The gravity of the injury was unknown at the time though and, talking to the crowd through the stadium's loudspeaker system. Basler joked that he would be out injured for six to nine months and left the podium with a grin.

That joke nas now come home to haunt him. His leg has been placed in a plaster cast for a fortnight and once that has been removed, he must wear a metal brace for another two weeks before starting intensive physiotherapy.

"It makes me sick. It's rotten bad luck, said Basler Things were just beginning to go better. I was training well and then this happens I absolutely wanted to play In the Champions League

Basler has been wearing management s patience thin at Bayern recently A week ago he was fined 11.000 dollars for drinking in a disco late into the night 24 hours before a Bundesliga game

He was there celebrating the 26th birthday of former Bayern colleague Dieter Hamann who is now at English pietmershlp side Liverpool and himself recovering from a severe ankle injury.

Bayern president Franz - Beckenbauer has complained that Basler wa% signed to play good football and not to constantly play the clown.

Basler has rejected Bayern's conditions for extending his contract and instead says he wants to leave as a free agent when his current contract expires next July.