Klasnic compensation

Klasnic said after the court hearing that he had rejected an offer of 350,000 euros ($462,000) proposed by a Bremen judge not because the sum was too small but because he wanted Werder's team doctors to acknowledge they had misdiagnosed his ailment.

"I could have died on the pitch ... I want justice to win out and the truth to be revealed," Klasnic said. "I want to know why the doctors made such a mistake."

Klasnic's lawyer claims the doctors – who include Dr Goetz Dimanski of Bremen's medical staff – failed to diagnose the deteriorating state of the Croatian striker's kidneys. Klasnic had already had problems with his kidneys when he arrived at the Bundesliga club in 2001.

Bremen team doctors have maintained their innocence in the case in which Klasnic is seeking 1.1 million euros in compensation after missing an entire soccer season as he underwent two kidney transplants in 2007.

The court has now assigned a medical expert to examine the cases of both parties. The assessments must be submitted by May 8.

Klasnic left Bremen after seven seasons last year to play for French club Nantes.