Bayern Munich defender Sammy Kuffour has been handed a six-game suspension following his sending-off for "rough play and violent conduct" in the midweek cup defeat at Schalke.

The German FA disciplinary commission stated that "rough play and violent conduct" were behind the heavy punishment.

Bayern lost the bad-tempered semi-final 2-0 after extra-time. Kuffour was shown the red card in the last minute of normal time for a challenge from behind on Jorg Bohme. Kuffour then went on to head-butt the Germany international in the following bust-up.

Furious Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, while conceding the red card was fair, accused the Schalke players of diving and deliberately provoking his players.

"It was an ill-fated match that was played in a hostile atmosphere," he fumed. "The fact that the Schalke players went down every time we touched them just infuriated everyone even more."

Kuffour has the rest of the week to appeal the decision, but is unlikely to succeed if he does.

This blow could prompt Bayern to intensify their interest in signing West Ham's Cameroon defender Rigobert Song. Song, currently on-loan with struggling Cologne, has been linked with a move to Munich