Nigeria international and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface has received a match ban and a €25,000 fine for making an offensive gesture during the German Super Cup match against Stuttgart at the BayArena on Saturday.
Boniface, who scored his team’s first of two goals in their victory, allegedly raised his left middle finger towards the opposing players as he ran past them immediately after the final whistle.
As a result, the 23-year-old will miss the German Cup match against Carl Zeiss Jena on Saturday but will be available for Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga season opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday.
Referee Tobias Stieler mentioned that he did not witness the incident, which prompted the disciplinary committee to investigate and impose charges retrospectively.
Both Boniface and the club have accepted the ruling, making it legally binding.
