France winger Franck Ribery will be out of action for as long as eight weeks following successful surgery on Thursday to repair a tear in the ligament of his left ankle.
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge quoted the chief of the clinic and the doctor that treated Ribery as saying the operation "went perfectly," according to a statement on Bayern's Web site.
Ribery will remain in the hospital a few days and will then have a three-week vacation given to all Bayern players who took part at the European Championship. Upon his return, Ribery will start his rehabilitation program.
If there are no setbacks in the healing process, Ribery might be ready for the start of the Bundesliga season on Aug. 15, Bayern said.
Ribery fell awkwardly in France's 2-0 loss to Italy on Tuesday. The defeat eliminated the French from the European Championship.
He was examined Wednesday at the Germany team's hotel in Basel, Switzerland, by team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who is also Bayern's medical chief. Germany is playing Portugal in the quarterfinals Thursday.
Ribery then went to Munich and had the operation at the Bogenhausen clinic.
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