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Frankfurt Captain David Abraham Banned for 7 Matches After Shoulder Charging Freiburg Coach

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​Eintracht Frankfurt skipper David Abraham has been suspended for seven matches after he shoulder charged SC Freiburg coach Christian Streich.

The 33-year-old was eager to restart play after the ball had left the pitch and entered Streich's technical area, as Frankfurt were trailing 1-0 in the closing stages of the Bundesliga encounter. When Streich allowed the ball to drift past him without stopping it to save time, Abraham knocked the coach over with a strong shoulder barge and chaos ensued.

The defender was subsequently sent off, but the German Football Federation (DFB) ruled that his actions required a harsher punishment. This means that Frankfurt's captain will not be in Bundesliga action until January, after the winter break.

However, he is permitted to feature in the Europa League, a competition that he has been heavily involved in. His next, and possibly only two fixtures until January will be a trip to Arsenal on November 28, and a home tie against Vitoria Guimaraes on December 12.

Freiburg substitute Vincenzo Grifo was involved in the bust-up, and was sent off for grabbing Abraham by the face. He has been banned for three matches by the DFB.

This is not the first time Abraham has been dismissed for the German side. The Argentinian has received three red cards in 142 appearances for Frankfurt, and has received five overall in his career, so this disciplinary record is not the best.

Both Abraham and Grifo are allowed to launch an appeal for their dismissals, according to ​Yahoo Sport, to the DFB sports court within the next 24 hours.

Frankfurt sit in ninth place in the Bundesliga, but are within touching distance of Hoffenheim, who sit in fifth on 20 points. They host Wolfsburg next, who currently lie one place below Die Adler in 10th.

Freiburg, on the other hand, are defying all odds in fourth place, and are just four points away from Borussia Monchengladbach, who lead the pack. They travel to Bayer Leverkusen in their next Bundesliga fixture, where a win would see the away side climb six points above their opponents.