Marco Reus has walked away from his illegal driving scandal with his career unscathed. Source: Getty Images

“Marco deserves the chance to show that he now draws the right conclusions from this,” Bierhoff said.

The 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund player has been fined E540,000 ($809,000) after admitting he drove for several years without a licence.

Bierhoff said the German Football Federation (DFB) was “completely surprised” by the news but that the national team would support Reus.

“It was important for me first to speak with Marco personally,” he said.

“He has made a big mistake. He sees that himself, doesn’t have an explanation for it and has been fined.

Marco Reus was reportedly fined 540,000 euro for driving without a license. Source: AP

“The standards we have for our internationals are very high. We repeatedly remind them of this and also demand a lot of them lot in respect to certain behaviour and values.

“That doesn’t mean our players are free from error, and I include us all in this.” It was not immediately clear whether Reus would face difficulties with sponsors over the affair.

Car manufacturer Opel, which has contracts with Reus and other Dortmund players, said in a statement there would be no ramifications.

Germany’s Bild newspaper meanwhile quoted a justice spokesman as saying Reus was also being investigated for driving with a fake licence.

WDR broadcaster had reported on Thursday that Reus presented a fake Dutch driving licence — obtained in 2009 — at a traffic control incident in March.

The huge fine was based on Reus’s nett Dortmund salary of E180,000 ($270,000) per month.