Sané faces at least three-match ban after frustrating red card
Leroy Sané apologized for the assault shortly after being sent off against Austria. "The game is on me today, that's on me. I have to control myself, that can't happen, I let the team down," said the 27-year-old after the 2-0 defeat in Vienna on Tuesday evening. He also apologized to his colleagues in the national team in the dressing room for his offence.
The FC Bayern Munich professional had struck opponent Phillipp Mwene with a punch at the start of the second half after a tackle and was shown the red card (49'). "It was nothing personal against Philipp, it was my own performance, as I said, it shouldn't happen to me," said Sané, explaining the incident. "I'm motivated, I want us to go in the right direction," he said.
Sané is facing a ban of at least three games from FIFA for the offense. This means that the Munich national team coach Julian Nagelsmann will not be available again until the final European Championship test match at the start of June. Two test matches are planned before the 2024 home tournament next March and in the immediate preparations after the end of the Bundesliga season.
"We generally don't have to play small"
FIFA's regulations stipulate a minimum ban of three matches or "an appropriate period of time" for "assaults, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or striking" against anyone other than the referees. Depending on the assessment of the disciplinary committee, the 27-year-old could therefore miss longer. Red cards in test matches are not usually punished with suspensions for matches in subsequent competitions.
Sané has played well for Bayern this season. In the 3-2 draw against Turkey in Berlin on Saturday and in Austria on Tuesday, he disappointed like the rest of the DFB squad. "We generally don't have to play small. We have super quality in the squad. That's why it's so difficult to understand from the outside why it's not working," said Sané on the DFB team's difficult situation.
Despite Sané's red card controversy, the DFB national team manager remains hopeful for his contribution to the team. The German Football Association (DFB) is eagerly anticipating Sané's return for the European Championship test matches, scheduled at the start of June.
With Sané's potential absence from at least three games, the German national team may face challenges in their preparations for the European Championship, especially considering the importance of test matches and the 2024 home tournament. The DFB, however, relies on their other stellar players to compensate for his absence during this time.
Source: www.dpa.com
