German Bundesliga

Hamburg fined 35,000 euros

German club Hamburger SV have been fined €35,000 by the DFB Discplinary Panel for the behaviour of their supporters against Werder Bremen’s Frank Baumann when the two clubs met in the Bundesliga on November 23.

Werder skipper Baumann was struck on the left cheekbone by a mobile phone battery thrown from the crowd at the Nordbank Arena. Hamburg won the game 2-1, with goals coming from Jose Guerrero and Ivica Olic.

This is not the first time that Hamburg have had to pay a fine.

In October 2006, they were ordered to pay €20,000 after a glass bottle hit Bremen keeper Tim Wiese in the face.

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Stuttgart 2-0 Schalke- Win on German debut for Markus Babbel

Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel enjoyed a winning start to his Bundesliga managerial career as VFB Stuttgart beat Schalke 04 2-0 at home on Sunday. This was Babbel’s second game in charge of Stuttgart, having earlier overseen the midweek draw against Sampdoria in the UEFA Cup. Substitute Jan Simak and striker Mario Gomez scored in the 79th and 83rd minutes respectively to give Stuttgart their first win in six games.

Mario Gomez scored on Babbel's Bundesliga managerial debut
Mario Gomez scored on Babbel's Bundesliga managerial debut

Stuttgart keeper Jens Lehmann also saved a 16th minute penalty from Jefferson Farfan which was awarded after Artur Boka had brought Kevin Kuranyi down. Farfan had also been guilty of squandering a chance three minutes later, with his weak shot being cleared off the line after Jermaine Jones had hit the post.

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Markus Babbel succeeds Armin Veh as Stuttgart manager

German side VFB Stuttgart have appointed former Bayern Munich and Liverpool defender Markus Babbel as their new manager after parting ways with Armin Veh. Veh and his assistant Alfons Higl were shown the door after Stuttgart were soundly beaten 4-1 by Felix Magaath’s Wolfsburg on Saturday. Stuttgart lie in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table, and are currently thirteen points behind league leaders TSG Hoffenheim.

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