The German Football Federation has handed Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface a one-match suspension and a €25,000 fine for inappropriate conduct. This disciplinary action stems from an incident where Boniface made an offensive gesture towards VFB Stuttgart players following the DFL Super Cup match earlier this month.
As a result, the 23-year-old Nigerian striker will be absent from an upcoming German Cup match, as confirmed by the DFB.
In a separate development, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed the situation involving Raheem Sterling, making it clear that there are no personal issues between them. However, Maresca emphasized that Sterling’s playing style does not fit within the team’s current strategy at Stamford Bridge. Consequently, Sterling was left out of Chelsea’s recent matches and is not expected to play in upcoming fixtures.
“I’ve been honest, he will have no minutes here,” Maresca stated ahead of the club’s Europa Conference League match against Servette on Thursday, August 22. “I’m not saying Raheem isn’t a good player, but I prefer a different type of winger. It’s as simple as that.”
Additionally, Sterling has been stripped of his Number 7 shirt, which has been reassigned to new signing Pedro Neto for the current season. Joao Felix will take over the Number 14 shirt, a decision reached after discussions between head coach Enzo Maresca and Trevoh Chalobah, who previously wore the number.
