Frankfurt (dpa) – Cologne sports director Joerg Schmadtke could face sanctions for an outburst towards the end of their game against Hoffenheim as the ruling body DFB says Monday it has launched an investigation.

Schmadtke threw chewing gum in the direction of the Hoffenheim bench and protested furiously after Hoffenheim’s 1-1 equalizer in injury time which came after the hosts played on when a Cologne player was lying on the ground injured.

Schmadtke then told Sky TV that «we are burying the principle of fair play this weekend,» referring also to a similar incident in the Leverkusen v Wolfsburg game which led to a goal as well.

He has apologised since but the DFB said it has asked him for a statement on the issue. Schmadtke was fined 6,000 euros (6,800

dollars) by the DFB in January for insulting match officials during a game.