Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was suspended Wednesday for the next three Bundesliga games by the German Football Association (DFB), ruling him out until the club's Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
'The Hunter' was shown a straight red for tackling Hanover's Manuel Schmiedebach from behind last Saturday, earning him an automatic one-game ban.
Having already sat out Schalke's 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, the DFB decided his offence, a wild hack at the back of Schmiedebach's legs, warranted a four-game ban in total.
The Dutch striker will not now play again until Schalke host holders Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, first-leg clash, in a fortnight in Gelsenkirchen.
The 31-year-old had been facing a potential six-match ban by the DFB's disciplinary committee, but was instead given four with two matches suspended.
The Netherlands forward must also pay a 15,000 euros ($17,177) fine.
The two suspended matches of his ban will be enforced if Huntelaar receives another red card before January 31 2016.
Huntelaar, who has scored seven goals in 17 games this season, misses Friday's clash at third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, and trips to mid-table Eintracht Frankfurt on February 14 and Werder Bremen a week later.
Source: AFP
