Ciprian Marica receives fine and three-match ban
Stuttgart's Romanian striker Ciprian Marica was handed a fine of 50,000 Euros and will sit out until mid-January due to a three-game suspension.
Marica received a red card for an outburst during Stuttgart's 4-2 loss to Hamburg on Saturday 27 November.
It seems that the 25-year-old was upset with the referee's decision to hand his team-mate, defender Georg Neidermeier, a yellow card and decided to take his anger out, verbally, towards the referee. The referee was not impressed with Marica's outburst and
handed him a red card.
Marica had been having a strong game for Stuttgart, even scoring the goal in the ninth minute, which tied the game at 1-1 after Hamburg had raced out to a quick lead with a goal in the third minute.
The incident that had Marica sent off occurred in the 16th minute. It changed the shape of the game, as Hamburg took control with a goal in the 29th minute, never relinquishing the lead.
Stuttgart's sporting director Fredi Bobic was upset by the position Marica put his team-mates in by getting sent off in a needless fashion.
"His behaviour didn't just affect him, but rather the whole team.
"A player with as much experience and class as he possesses needs to avoid such situations. The fact that he has taken a step backwards with that stupid reaction is something I find very disappointing."
Stuttgart have had a very disappointing season and now sit just one point off the bottom in the German Bundesliga with a mere 11 points from 14 matches and more losses in the league than any other team.
Marica had been one of the team leaders in scoring with five league goals this season. He won't get a chance to play again until January 15 when Stuttgart take on Mainz.
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