German FA reduces Leon Balogun's ban to 2 games, to pay €10,000 fine for violent conduct

The German Football Association has reduced the ban of Super Eagles player Leon Balogun from 3 games to 2 games after his club, Mainz, appealed his punishment for violent conduct in the 2-1 defeat  to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Balogun deliberately used his knee to hit Frankfurt's Carlos Zambrano in the closing stages of the match but the incident was missed by the referee which prompted the German FA to act and ban him for 3 games but after a successful appeal by the player and his club the ban has been reduced to 2 games.

The statement on the official website of the German FA reads:


“After a verbal hearing with the German Football Association’s sports tribunal, Leon Balogun’s suspension for blatant misconduct in the form of violence against an opponent was reduced to two games and a 10,000 Euro fine after the charge was reduced to careless conduct.

“The panel reduced the decision of a three game ban that was originally given out by a single judge. Balogun as well as the club Mainz 05 agreed to the new judgement.

“The change means that the centre-back will be available for Mainz’s final home match of the season against Hertha BSC (Saturday 14th May).”