Borussia Monchengladbach's striker Marcus Thuram has been handed a six-match suspension and a 40,000 euro fine ($49,000) by the German Football Association on Monday for spitting in the face of his opponent.

Thuram was sent off with a red card in the 78th minute when the score was 1-1 after he spat on Hoffenheim defender Stefan Posch's face. 23-year-old striker Marcus Thuram is the son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram. Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl reportedly said, "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 does not 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 Thuram took to Twitter to apologize for his actions. Accepting that he reacted in a wrong way, the striker said, "Today something took place that is not in my character and must never happen. I reacted to an opponent in a wrong way and something occurred accidentally and not intentionally. I apologise to everyone, to Stefan Posch, to my opponents, to my team mates, to my family and to all those who saw my reaction. Of course, I accept all the consequences of my gesture."