Bundesliga: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has ban reduced to four matches after appeal
Wednesday 4 February 2015 13:20, UK
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has had his six-game ban reduced to four matches after a successful appeal.
The Dutchman was handed the lengthy suspension after a horror tackle from behind on Manuel Schmiedebach during his side's 1-0 win against Hannover on Saturday.
The club immediately appealed the severity of the punishment, stating that while they agreed with the dismissal, a six-game ban was too harsh.
That appeal has been somewhat successful, as the ban is to be reduced by two games.
“He must sit out four games of his ban,” a statement from the German Football Association said. “The remaining two games are to be suspended until January 30 2016.
“This means the forward will have to sit out these two games if he sees another red card until then.”
Huntelaar has played 17 of Schalke’s 19 Bundesliga matches this term, netting seven goals and will be a big miss to Schalke as they look to qualify for next season's Champions League.
But the striker will be in contention when Schalke host holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 clash in Europe's top club competition on February 18.
