Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal warms up before the German first division Bundesliga football match of FC Bayern Munich vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, southern Germany, on January 31, 2016. / AFP / LUKAS BARTH / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read LUKAS BARTH/AFP/Getty Images)LUKAS BARTH/Getty Images

Arturo Vidal Threatens to Sue SportBild After Bayern Munich Drinking Claims

Rory MarsdenFeb 3, 2016

Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal has instructed his lawyers to begin legal proceedings against German weekly SportBild following allegations by the newspaper that the Chilean got drunk during the club's winter training camp in Qatar.

Per Alec Fenn of Goal.com, SportBild claimed on Tuesday that Vidal, 28, returned to the camp on several occasions "in an intoxicated state."

On Wednesday, Vidal issued a statement in which he strongly denied the allegations and announced that he was initiating legal action:

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The former Juventus man has been a key player for Bayern this season and will undoubtedly be vital during the run-in, as the German giants are still fighting for domestic and European silverware.

He has appeared in all 19 of the German champions' Bundesliga games this season and played a major role as Bayern qualified top of Group F in the Champions League, per Squawka.

Vidal will face his former team-mates in the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition, as Bayern drew Juve in the first knockout round.

Per ESPN FC, Vidal has been embroiled in alcohol-related controversy before, having lost his driver's licence after his involvement in a drunk-driving incident in his Ferrari last year.