Lehmann apologises for Mainz red card

Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann apologised to his team-mates after being sent off in their 1-1 draw with Mainz, the struggling club’s Romanian striker Ciprian Marica revealed on Monday.

“He apologised,” said Marica. “I hope that Jens will stay with us, but it’s a shame what he did against Mainz.”

The 40-year-old former Germany goalkeeper saw red in the 87th minute of the match at Mainz on Sunday for standing on the foot of the home side’s Burkina Faso striker Aristide Bance.

Mainz equalised from the ensuing penalty to leave Stuttgart fourth from bottom in the Bundesliga standings despite their recent qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.

After the match, Lehmann was involved in an altercation with a Stuttgart supporter outside the stadium that was captured by television cameras.

Stuttgart announced on Monday that Lehmann would not participate in forthcoming training sessions due to a knee injury.

The former Arsenal custodian, who is under contract until the end of the season, was fined by his employers last week for criticising the club’s decision to fire former coach Markus Babbel.