Leverkusen's Germany midfielder Simon Rolfes is facing the first suspension of his career after elbowing Schalke 04's teenage midfielder Julian Draxler in the face. Rolfes, who made the last of his 26 appearances for Germany in the 3-0 friendly win over Holland last November, left Draxler on the turf with a heavy blow in the 34th minute of Leverkusen's 2-0 defeat at Schalke.
Referee Deniz Aytekin said he "didn't see the incident", but "what happens in the aftermath is the responsibility of the disciplinary committee". Replays of the incident will now be reviewed by the German Football Federation's diciplinary panel and Rolfes could be suspended for at least one match.
"That was a clear red card," former Bundesliga referee Markus Merk told German Sky. Rolfes, who has yet to even pick up a yellow card this season, apologised to the 18-year-old Draxler after the Saturday's game. "That wasn't intentional, I am really very sorry," said the 30-year-old Leverkusen captain whose side host relegation-candidates Freiburg on Saturday. Rolfes is set to be included in Germany's Euro 2012 squad for Poland and Ukraine this summer which kicks-off on June 8.
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