NUREMBERG - Nurnberg striker Jan Koller has been fined 15,000 euros and banned for one game for spitting at an opponent during Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Hannover.
The German Football Association (DFB) ruled the Czech Republic international did not intentionally spit at Christian Schulz, but did find him guilty of gross unsporting conduct.
The DFB decided Koller spat out of annoyance following a tussle with Hannover's Altin Lala after the final whistle.
The chairman of the DFB's disciplinary panel Hans Lorenz told the DFB's official website, www.dfb.de: "After examining the issue we have determined that the spitting was certainly not purposefully aimed at a Hannover player, rather the misbehaviour falls into the category of unsporting conduct in the form of a gross sporting misconduct and not an act against the opponent."
The referee Michael Kempter did not see the incident at the time.
Both Nurnberg and Koller have accepted the punishment so the striker will now miss the home clash with Hamburg on Sunday.
