Bayern Says Kane’s Ankle Injury Is Not as Bad as Initially Feared

 Munich's Harry Kane passes the ball past Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane passes the ball past Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (dpa via AP)
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Bayern Says Kane’s Ankle Injury Is Not as Bad as Initially Feared

 Munich's Harry Kane passes the ball past Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane passes the ball past Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (dpa via AP)

Bayern Munich star Harry Kane’s left ankle injury is not as serious as initially feared, the Bundesliga club said.

“Examinations by the club’s medical unit on Sunday determined a positive development,” the Bavarian powerhouse said. “Kane will continue to receive appropriate treatment.”

The club did not say whether Kane will be fit for Bayern’s visit to Aston Villa in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old forward limped off the field late in Bayern’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Saturday after getting a knock to the ankle in a tussle for the ball with Leverkusen’s Amine Adli.

Kane failed to have a shot at goal against Leverkusen but has been instrumental in Bayern’s attack again this season. He scored five goals and set up six more in the first four league games, while scoring four goals in the 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the club's opening Champions League game.

He also scored in Bayern’s opening German Cup match.



FIFA Suspends Argentina Goalkeeper for 2 Matches in World Cup Qualifying

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
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FIFA Suspends Argentina Goalkeeper for 2 Matches in World Cup Qualifying

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds a ball while warming up prior to a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Argentina's soccer association (AFA) said on Friday that FIFA suspended goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for two matches of South American World Cup qualifying in October.
The decision rules out the 32-year-old from official games in the round-robin competition against Venezuela and Bolivia on Oct. 10 and 15.
AFA said in a statement that FIFA's disciplinary commission sanctioned Martínez due to incidents in two World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia earlier this month. The soccer body did not describe which incidents led to the punishment, The Associated Press reported.
Martínez made an obscene gesture after his team's 3-0 win against Chile by holding the Copa America trophy close to his genitals, as he did after the South American team lifted the World Cup title in Qatar in the end of 2022.
Later, he slapped a local cameraman after Argentina's 2-1 defeat against Colombia in Barranquilla.
Argentina's soccer body said it “absolutely disagrees” with FIFA's decision.
Argentina leads South American World Cup qualifying with 18 points after eight games, followed by Colombia (16) and Uruguay (15).