Lehmann dropped after Oktoberfest visit

Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by PA

Stuttgart's former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been dropped from the first-team squad for paying a visit to Oktoberfest at the weekend.

The 39-year-old was spotted at Munich's beer festival only hours after his side had been beaten 2-0 by Cologne in the Bundesliga, although he had not been given permission to attend.

"(Director of sport) Horst Heldt and I will talk with Jens about this on Thursday and then we will see where to go," explained coach Markus Babbel on the club's website, who confirmed that Lehmann would not be part of the squad which travels to face Lubeck in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

Lehmann apologised for breaking club rules, accepted the suspension, but claimed his motives were good.

"The visit to the Wiesn (Oktoberfest) was part of a charity event and it had been planned for a long time," he said after training on Monday.

"However, it was not agreed with the club. Of course I accept the measures taken by the sporting management."

Lehmann committed a terrible error to gift Cologne their second goal at the weekend when he raced out of his area only to lose possession and allow Wilfried Sanou to shoot into an empty net from 45 yards out.