BERLIN: Mainz 05 midfielder Jose Rodriguez was banned for five matches and fined 10,000 euros (8,625.45 pounds) on Tuesday for a reckless challenge on Augsburg's Dominik Kohr that left the player with serious injuries.

Rodriguez, who has since apologised, flew into Kohr in stoppage time after having come on in the 85th minute as a substitute and with Mainz 3-1 ahead. He was shown a straight red card.

Kohr needed hospital treatment after sustaining a deep, 14-centimetre-long cut in his lower thigh that left bones exposed. He will be out for several weeks.

"The team and the player have accepted the verdict," the German Football Association (DFB) said.