Bayern Munich have suspended defender Martin Demichelis after he refused a request to play in midfield in this Saturday's match against Energie Cottbus.

The Argentina international had "lost the plot" and the club had no alternative but to leave him behind in Munich and ban him from training, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told the Bundesliga leaders' website.

The 27-year-old had played in a holding midfield role against Schalke and Karlsruhe earlier this month but refused to play there again, he said.

"A player can't choose which position he wants to play in," Hitzfeld said. "This is not a musical request programme and it remains a decision exclusively for the coach."

Hitzfeld has acted firmly with his players before.

Club captain Oliver Kahn was fined 25,000 euros and suspended for one match after he left the Christmas party early and criticised team mates Luca Toni and Franck Ribery.

Demichelis had stormed into the Bayern press room after training on Friday to tell reporters his side of the story, sports news agency SID reported.

"My heart beats for FC Bayern and I feel like a son of the club," SID quoted him as saying.

"I want to apologise to the fans for this behaviour and don't want to criticise Ottmar Hitzfeld but I am a regular player for Argentina and also want to play in my regular position."

Midfielder Mark van Bommel is suspended for the match against bottom-placed Cottbus. Bayern are seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga on 50 points with Werder Bremen on 43 in second and Hamburg on 42 in third.

Reuters