DFB sports tribunal adjusts suspension for Toni Leistner

The DFB’s sports tribunal has today (24th September) adjusted the original suspension handed down to Toni Leistner by the controlling committee after a hearing in Frankfurt. The HSV defender has received a four-game ban “due to assault against a spectator after previous unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a violation of the DFB/DFL’s hygiene concept.” The defender will have to sit out two league and two cup games, whilst also paying a €6,000 fine.

The original decision from the controlling committee had seen the Rothosen’s summer signing given a five-game suspension, with three to be served straight away and two as part of a suspended sentence until the 18th September 2021, alongside an €8,000 fine.

After the DFB Pokal game in Dresden last Monday, Leistner was insulted by a fan from the stands whilst waiting to give a TV interview. As a fan continued to scream incredibly personal insults at Leistner, the defender climbed into the stands and confronted the perpetrator, leading to pushing and shoving, which Leistner eventually left.

Leistner himself challenged the original verdict and was invited to a hearing in person in Frankfurt. The explanation for the new verdict was released by the chairman of the DFB’s sporting tribunal, Hans E. Lorenz: “Usually attacks by players on fans are punished more severely. However, in this case there were a number of reasons for mitigation, in particular that the player hasn’t been punished for on or off-field actions before and the severity with which he was provoked or believed he was being provoked. There was no room to reduce the sentence more drastically, because the punishment needs to act as a deterrent for such actions.” Leistner himself had the following to say on the matter: “It was important for me to be listened to in person. I now accept the suspension.” As such, the decision is now legally binding.