Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has
welcomed a four-game ban for Bayer Leverkusen's Karim Bellarabi
following a foul on defender Rafhina.
Rummenigge said he hoped the ban, imposed by the German Football
Federation (DFB) disciplinary body on Monday, will have a preventive
effect.
Rafinha is now sidelined with a partial ankle ligament tear following
the foul by Bellarabi, who was shown a red card in the 80th minute of
Saturday's Bundesliga game, which Bayern won 3-1.
STOMP!
Did Karim Bellarabi deserve to be sent off for this? pic.twitter.com/1VeeDQdCA0
— Goal (@goal) September 16, 2018
The 28-year-old forward, who apologized to Rafinha for the foul, was
also fined 10,000 euros (11,600 dollars). Leverkusen said Tuesday
they would not appeal the sanctions.
Rummenigge had already called on the DFB and referees to clamp down
on bad fouls following injuries to Bayern players in the first two
games of the season, saying more protection was needed.
Winger Kingsley Coman is out with an ankle ligament tear following a
tackle in the opening Bundesliga game against Hoffeheim.
French World Cup winner Corentin Tolisso is a long-term injury loss
after Bayern said he "ruptured a cruciate ligament and the medial
meniscus in his right knee" against Leverkusen, although the injury
did not result from a foul.
"It can't carry on otherwise we won't have any more players or won't
be able to get 11 players together by the 10th matchday," Rummenigge
said.
Club chairman Uli Hoeness had described Bellarabi's foul as "insane"
and "intentional assault," saying the player should be banned for
three months "for stupidity."
However Leverkusen sports director Rudi Voeller said Hoeness "did us
a favour" with his remarks because as a result Bellarbi was banned
for four instead of five games.