Alexander Hack was suspended for one match by the DFB Sports Court. In a way, the Mainz player also has Leipzig attacker André Silva to thank for this.
Hack was suspended for one match “for unsportsmanlike conduct”, according to DFB information on Monday. The player and the club have agreed to the verdict, making it legally binding.
The Mainz player had cleared André Silva’s shot with his hand in the penalty area in the 1:4 defeat in Leipzig in the 19th minute and was subsequently shown the red card. Silva converted the penalty kick – and that is to Hack’s credit. Otherwise, the 28-year-old would probably have received a two-game ban. According to current case law, preventing a goal-scoring opportunity with the hand as well as with an emergency stop only results in a one-match suspension if the penalty kick lands in the goal, because this means that the offence of injustice is no longer committed.
Hack will therefore have to be replaced for the home match against Bochum on Saturday. In Leipzig, coach Bo Svensson had reacted to Hack’s sending-off by switching from a three-man to a four-man defence.
