Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng revealed that Michael Ballack had slapped him before the tackle incident that ended the latter's World Cup hope. Boateng's rash challenge forced the Germany captain to miss the South Africa finals, causing ankle ligament damage in last weekend's FA Cup final. After apologizing for the tackle, the Ghana midfielder responded vehemently to accusations that his challenge was malicious. "There is my foul on the one hand and his slap on the other, and I think that violent conduct is far worse than a foul," Boateng told Sport Bild magazine. "Ballack really does surprise me. He complains for weeks when [Lukas] Podolski slaps him and yet he does it himself. He is no better than Podolski. What kind of behavior is that?" Boateng, who switched allegiances from Germany to Ghana, could face the Mannschaft in Johannesburg in the Group D clash on June 23rd.
