Nigeria and Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface has been handed a one-match ban in the DFB Cup following an unsportsmanlike gesture during the Supercup match against VfB Stuttgart.
The German Football Association (DFB) sports court ruled that the 23-year-old exhibited “blatantly anti-sporting behaviour” by showing his middle finger to VfB players, resulting in a €25,000 fine.
The incident occurred after Leverkusen’s penalty shootout victory 4-3 win, and although referee, Tobias Stieler did not witness it, the DFB Control Committee investigated and pressed charges retroactively. Leverkusen accepted the ruling, making it legally binding.
Boniface’s teammate, Martin Terrier, also received a two-match ban in the cup for a red card incident. Terrier was sent off after stepping on Ermedin Demirovic’s ankle with an open sole. Both players will miss Leverkusen’s first-round DFB Cup match against regional league team, Carl Zeiss Jena on August 28th, 2024.
