Dorsch apologizes for tackle on Mainz's Sano, appeals for leniency from DFB

Niklas Dorsch's first start since his return to his former club of 1. FC Heidenheim didn't exactly go as the 26-year-old had hoped. Even though his new team were able to return to winning ways with a league victory over FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday afternoon, the former German youth international earned an ejection for a vicious tackle on FSV midfielder Kaishu Sano in the 80th minute. 

Luckily for Dorsch, his squad (clinging to a slender 1-0 lead at the time) were able to score another late shorthanded goal and secure all three points. Dorsch spoke on the incident later on in the mixed zone, praising his team for closing out the victory. The former FC Bayern academy man also emphasized that his tackle on Sano was wrong, yet unintentional. 

“I think you can see it in my reaction," Dorsch said, "I immediately raised my arm with the desire to apologize to my opponent, because I realized that I hit him really badly. I realized rather early that I couldn't avoid a red card."

"I hope that in the [DFB sports court] assessment,all parties involved also see that I had no malicious intentions of hurting him," Dorsch continued, "I wanted to get past the opponent with my right foot and then I stepped on his foot very, very hard with my supporting leg."