Monchengladbach Fine Thuram One Month Wages For Spitting At Opponent

Thuram, son of France great Lilian, was given his marching off orders eleven minutes from time after a VAR check found that he had spat in the face of Hoffenheim’s Stefan Posch during a brief altercation between the two.

Thuram insisted his actions were unintentional after the game and duly apologised but Monchengladbach have decided to issue a further punishment to the 23-year-old.

Sporting director Max Eberl said in a statement: "I had a long discussion with Marcus this morning, in which he apologised to me and to the club once again for his actions.

"We have known Marcus for almost two years, we know his background and his family. Yesterday's actions do not represent that. Marcus is devastated and has assured me that he did not purposely spit at Stefan Posch. He told me that during a dispute with Stefan Posch, he had unintentionally spat after cursing several times in French in the heat of the moment.

"He knows that this doesn't change anything and that the pictures speak for themselves, and that the sending off was the right call. I believe Marcus because I have come to know him as a reflective person with a great demeanour. He did it, but he did not do it with intent.

"As a club, we will fine him a sum equivalent to one month's wage for his behaviour that led to the dismissal, which will be donated to a good cause. Marcus has accepted this and has also offered to engage with this social cause on his own behalf.

"Last night, Marcus apologised to Stefan Posch, Hoffenheim, his team-mates, the coaching staff and the Gladbach fans, and I would like to do this again explicitly on behalf of Borussia Monchengladbach. Marcus made a big mistake and is being punished for it. He remains the same person we know, and we will stand by him."

Monchengladbach went on to lose 2-1, dropping to eighth on the table and without a win in their last four matches.