Officials at the German Football Federation claim Michael Ballack's career could have been at risk if he had not undergone immediate surgery on his injured ankle.
German Football Federation (DFB) media director Harald Stenger claimed Ballack underwent the operation after DFB doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt had contacted Chelsea to inform them.
'Our national team doctor told me after his diagnosis on Friday an immediate operation was inevitable and absolutely necessary,' said Stenger on the DFB website.
'Any further training or further activity would have led to an aggravation of the injury and could even have endangered the continuation of the career of Michael Ballack.
'In addition Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt took care to inform both the Association and the physicians of Chelsea by telephone in detail of the necessity and justification of an immediate operation.'
