Rajkovic gets three-match ban

Hamburg will be without the services of Slobodan Rajkovic for their next three league matches after a hearing with the DFB sports court on Tuesday.

The Serbian defender was sent off in the 22nd minute of his team’s 1-1 draw with Kaiserslautern on Sunday after he used his elbow to shield Christian Tiffert away from the ball.

The opposing midfielder sustained a nasty gash and referee Markus Schmidt took immediate action to issue Rajkovic his marching orders.

Hamburg were not pleased with the verdict and decided to appeal but the DFB court ruled his suspension should stand.

“This was not an assault, (Rajkovic) did not do it on purpose; he did not swing at (Tiffert),” the club’s sporting director Frank Arnesen told Kicker.

In addition to Rajkovic’s suspension, Augsburg’s Torsten Oehrl was also slapped with a three-match ban following his sending off for a foul against Cologne.