Mainz and Nigeria defender Leon Balogun has been suspended for three matches for violent conduct.

Leon Balogun

The German Football Association disciplinary committee ruled that Balogun deliberately kneed Eintracht

Frankfurt’s Carlos Zambrano in the 89th minute of Sunday’s Bundesliga match.

The 27-year-old has been suspended from all club activities until the three-match ban has been served.

Mainz and Balogun have 24 hours to apply for an appeal hearing.

Match referee Felix Zwayer did not see the infringement but it was caught by the television cameras.