Image:Paolo Guerrero was shown a straight red card for his violent challenge
Hamburg striker Paolo Guerrero has been banned for eight Bundesliga games for a violent lunge at VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
Striker expected to return for the final two league games
Hamburg striker Paolo Guerrero has been banned for eight Bundesliga games for a violent lunge at VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
The 28-year-old was given a straight red card for the challenge from behind in the 54th minute of his side's 4-0 defeat on Saturday.
And the German football association (DFB) confirmed that the Peru international would be suspended from all competitions until April 22.
After the game Guerrero could not understand what all the fuss was about, saying: "Their goalkeeper was able to carry on - it is not like he got injured.
I cannot claim that I intended to play the ball, no. At that moment, I was not really considering it - I was frustrated. But such things don't just happen to me and to be quite honest, I cannot understand all the fuss."
Hamburg appealed the proposed ban on Monday arguing the suspension was too long when compared with more violent attacks in the past that received lighter sentences.
However, the club immediately took a U-turn and admitted that Guerrero was correctly sent off and should be banned as well as fined.
Last season the player was banned for five matches for throwing a plastic beer mug at a spectator, while he has upset the Hamburg hierarchy by returning late after trips home to Peru.
Guerrero is expected to return for the final two league games of the season.
