Schalke's Ozan Kabak threatened with long suspension
The DFB-Disciplinary committee officially opened an investigation on Monday into an incident during Werder Bremen's victory over Schalke 04. Schalke's Ozan Kabak, who also happens to be the club's highest value player, is accused of "flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct against an opponent."
Twenty-year-old Turkish defender Ozan Kabak was sent off on double-yellows during his side's 1-4 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday. The German FA, however, is not necessarily as interested in the bookings he received in the 58th and 84th minute. Replays appear to show Kabak spitting in the face of Bremen's Ludwig Augustinsson as the Hanseaten defender lay on the ground in the 26th.
Kabak has publicly denied that his actions were "unintentional" and that he "would never do such a thing." The nature of the incident nevertheless compels the DFB to consider a very long suspension.
The last Bundesliga player to be suspended for a spitting occurrence was Hertha BSC midfielder Santiago Ascacibar, who spat in the face of Kai Havertz while playing for Stuttgart in the spring of 2019. Ascacibar was actually banned from Bundesliga play for six weeks for the offense.
The DFB committee certainly has precedent to consider, but their most recent disciplinary decision suggests that the panel find themselves in a more tolerant mood. The council, in accordance with precedent, recently suspended Hamburger SV's Toni Leistner for five games and fined him €8,000 for entering the stands to accost a fan after a recent Pokal fixture.
The committee would later reduce the ban to four fixtures and the fine to €6,000, citing "several mitigating factors".