German top-flight strugglers Cologne confirmed Monday they have appealed against the one-match ban handed to Arsenal target Lukas Podolski after the Germany star was sent off for the first time in his career.
The 26-year-old, who is tipped to move to the Premier League at the end of the season by both German and British media, was shown a red card in Cologne's 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Television replays of his tussle with Hertha defender Levan Kobiashvili backed up Podolski's post-match insistence that he was merely trying to pull himself away from the Georgian international.
Referee Guido Winkmann sent both players off with Podolski receiving a straight red, while Kobiashvili was dismissed after receiving his second yellow of the game.
A red card carries an automatic one-match ban in the Bundesliga, but Cologne are hoping to have Podolski back for Sunday's game against Hanover after appealing to the German Football Federation (DFB).
"We have appealed the decision," Cologne's managing director Claus Horstmann told German daily Express.
"The television pictures clearly show that there was no crime."
On Saturday, Podolski said the deal to join Arsenal was far from complete despite plenty of tabloid speculation in both Germany and England.
"Contrary to the reports of the past few days, nothing has been decided yet," Podolski told German Sky Sports.
"If there is something to report, I'll let you know."
Source: AFP
