FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Hamburg defender Toni Leistner was banned for five games Friday, two of them suspended, for assaulting a fan who he said had insulted his family.
After Dynamo Dresden beat Hamburg 4-1 in the German Cup on Monday, Leistner leapt into the stand during a TV interview and pushed a Dresden supporter. Leistner was born in the city of Dresden and previously played for the team.
The incident happened at one of the first German games to be played in front of a significant number of fans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Leistner was also fined 8,000 euros ($9,470).
The German soccer federation said that the fine was issued because Leistner had broken social distancing rules by going into the stand.
“In that manner, he subjected himself and possibly also third parties to the danger of being infected with the coronavirus,” the federation said in a statement.
Leistner can appeal the ruling.
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