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FOOTBALL

Red Robben suspended for two matches

Bayern Munich's Dutch star Arjen Robben was Monday handed a two-match Bundesliga ban for being sent off after the final whistle of the 1-1 draw with Nuremberg at the weekend.

Red Robben suspended for two matches
Photo: DPA

The setback means Bayern have slipped further behind in the race to finish in at least third place, which is qualifies them for a Champions League place next season.

Robben, Bayern’s play-maker, was furious after his team conceded a late equaliser which saw them drop to fourth in the German league on Saturday.

A subsequent dispute with the match referee, during which an irate Robben claimed Bayern should have been awarded a penalty earlier in the match, earned him a red card.

The disciplinary commission of the German Football Federation (DFB) announced Robben’s ban Monday, adding to his woes by slapping him with a €15,000 fine.

Robben’s last dismissal was in March 2006 while playing for Premier League side Chelsea against West Bromwich Albion.

He will now miss league matches against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday and Frankfurt the following week.

On Sunday Bayern sacked their coach Louis van Gaal, with the ousted Dutchman’s assistant Andries Jonker taking over as caretaker head coach for the remainder of the campaign.

Bayer Leverkusen’s coach Jupp Heynckes has already been announced as Bayern’s manager for next season.

AFP/djw

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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