Boniface banned, fined €25,000

Nigerian international and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface has been handed a match ban and fined €25,000 for making an offensive gesture during the German Super Cup match against Stuttgart at BayArena on Saturday.

Boniface, who scored the first of Bayer Leverkusen’s two goals in their victory, reportedly showed his left middle finger to Stuttgart players as he passed them immediately after the final whistle.

As a result of the ban, the 23-year-old will miss Bayer Leverkusen’s German Cup match against Carl Zeiss Jena on Saturday but will be available for their opening Bundesliga game against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday.

Referee Tobias Stieler noted that he did not witness the incident, prompting a retrospective investigation and charges by the disciplinary committee. Both Boniface and his club have accepted the ruling, making it legally binding.