Gelsenkirchen, Germany (SportsNetwork.com) - Schalke forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been banned for six games by the German Football Association after being sent off against Hannover on Saturday.
Huntelaar received a straight red card five minutes from time in Schalke's 1-0 win for a poor challenge on Hannover's Manuel Schmiedebach, which normally carries a three-game ban.
However, the Dutchman got another three games for confronting referee Sascha Stegemann, meaning he will miss key league fixtures against Bayern Munich, Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund among others.
Huntelaar will be eligible to feature for Schalke in the Champions League against Real Madrid, but he will be out until March in Bundesliga play.
With seven goals in 17 league appearances for Schalke, Huntelaar ranks second on the team behind Maxim Choupo-Moting, who has found the net nine times.
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