The Bayern Munich defender says his brother Kevin-Prince Boateng is not to blame for the Royal Blues’ poor campaign in the Bundesliga

Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jerome Boateng has criticised the decision of Schalke 04 to drop his half-brother Kevin-Prince Boateng from the squad, claiming that the Ghana international is being used as a scapegoat for the Royal Blues’ poor season.

Kevin-Prince and Germany winger Sidney Sam were handed a garden leave following Schalke’s stunning 2-0 defeat to Cologne on May 10.

The decision means both players remain under contract but have no future with the club and can arrange for a move away from Veltins-Arena.

“Schalke were clearly looking for a scapegoat. My brother hadn't played for weeks in the starting side. Just because he started one game in the team, which has been playing without success for weeks, he is supposed to have suddenly pulled the whole team down?” Jerome was quoted as saying by Skysports.

“Kevin-Prince doesn't have an explanation for the sudden turn of events. He is naturally very disappointed with those responsible at Schalke, which I can completely understand.

“Why wasn't the whole team criticised for the defeat? Instead, they threw two players out, one of whom also spent five weeks on the bench with Kevin, and had still done all they could,” the 2014 Fifa World Cup winner said.

Kevin-Prince is also serving an indefinite suspension with the Ghana national team after he was sent home from the Brazil 2014 for acts of indiscipline.

The 28-year-old former AC Milan midfielder has however been linked to another Serie A outfit Lazio, while Major League Soccer team New York Red Bulls have ruled themselves out of a move for the player.