BERLIN (AP) The German football federation has opened proceedings against Cologne sporting director Joerg Schmadtke for throwing chewing gum toward the Hoffenheim coaching area during a Bundesliga game Sunday.
Schmadtke reacted furiously when Kevin Volland scored a late equalizer for Hoffenheim to salvage a 1-1 draw while a Cologne player, Lukas Kluenter, was lying on the pitch after what seemed a foul from Eduardo Vargas.
Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen said Schmadtke phoned to apologize for his actions and ''with that the issue is closed for us.''
Schmadtke was fined 6,000 euros ($6,800) by the federation's sports tribunal in January for insulting match officials at halftime during Cologne's game at Werder Bremen on Dec. 12, when he shouted: ''You eggheads are getting worse from week to week!''
