BERLIN, May 24: German football captain and new Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has been fined 60,000 euros (77,000 dollars) for failing to declare a handbag he bought in Dubai at airport customs, Bild newspaper said on Wednesday.

Ballack bought the handbag, which is valued at about 2,000 euros, for his girlfriend in the shopper's haven in January and it was found in his luggage at Munich airport.

Bild quoted Markus Bruemmer, a justice spokesman in the southern state of Bavaria, as saying a court had fined the footballer 60,000 euros, payable over 12 days.

Ballack is appealing the ruling, Bruemmer added.

The former Bayern Munich star would have had to pay about 380 euros in taxes on the handbag.

The German Football Federation (DFB) refused to comment on the case.

Ballack earlier this month signed a lucrative three-year deal with Chelsea reported to be worth 130,000 pounds a week.—AFP