<div><p>Jens Lehmann announced on Saturday he would refuse to pay the fine he was given for criticising his club Stuttgart's firing of coach Markus Babbel.</p><p>Babbel was sacked last Sunday and replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Gross, with Lehmann claiming his bosses had simply bowed to the demands of angry fans.</p><p>Supporters turned on Babbel after Stuttgart's 1-1 draw with Bochum left them third from bottom in the Bundesliga.</p><p>Lehmann told German daily Bild: "I don't accept having to pay this fine and I have explained that to the club's management."</p><p>On Friday Stuttgart chairman Erwin Staudt said Lehmann had been out of order to go public with his criticism.</p><p>"Our players can freely express themselves, but what he said was not to be tolerated and damaged the image of the club.</p><p>"Anyone can have an opinion and voice criticisms but that must not be done through the media," Staudt told broadcaster Sky.</p><p>Gross for his part commented: "I need players who roll their sleeves up. Jens knows the situation in which we find ourselves."</p><p>Stuttgart's general manager Horst Heldt said Lehmann was wrong and had been guilty of "egotism". He also warned of "consequences."</p><p>"These are statements which of course we cannot tolerate," Heldt warned.</p><p>Lehmann, 40, who retired from international football in August 2008, accused Heldt and Stuttgart of listening to a group of hardcore supporters.</p><p>"There was a certain bunch of fans, most of whom are just going through puberty, and that's what influenced the club in making certain decisions," Lehmann told Sky.</p><p>"That's the way it is in football."</p><p>The Stuttgart goalkeeper said he was shocked after a groups of angry fans stopped the team bus to shout insults and chant death threats, prompting police intervention.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65288829&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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