BERLIN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The German Football Association (DFB) suspended Schalke's Klaas Jan Huntelaar for six games due to a violent conduct, the "Royal Blues" announced on Monday.
Despite starting with a 1-0 win over Hannover into the second half of the campaign, Schalke will have to do it without their striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar for six matches.
The Dutchman was sent off with a straight red card when he committed a rude foul play to Hannover's Manuel Schmiedebach in the closing period.
According to the DFB sports tribunal Huntelaar committed a violent conduct, which is why he has been suspended for six games.
However, Schalke's manager Horst Heldt has a different opinion and indicated that the club will raise an objection. "In contrast to the sports tribunal we believe that this was not a violent conduct. The red card was justified but a six game ban is in our view a too severe penalty. Therefore we raised an objection."
This is the second dismissal for Huntelaar but his first with a straight red card. The Dutchman will miss important games against Bayern Munich, Monchengladbach, Frankfurt, Bremen, Dortmund and Hoffenheim.
Schalke sit currently the fourth place of the table. They encounter front-runners Bayern Munich on Tuesday at the 19th round of Bundesliga.