FRANKFURT: Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been banned for three games by the German Football Federation's (DFB) disciplinary commission after his red card in last weekend's Bundesliga game.

The winter break means that Lehmann will not play until the end of January, dealing a blow to his team who are struggling in 15th position in the Bundesliga with just 13 points.

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.

The DFB justified the severity of the penalty by the fact that Lehmann's action was "deliberate".

Before the match Lehmann was also fined 40,000 euros for criticising his club's decision to fire former coach Markus Babbel