In Eintracht Frankfurt’s DFB Cup round of 16 tie with 1. FC Saarbrücken, Essen-born Noel Futkeu made an inglorious debut. The penalty is known.

On his 21st birthday, Noel Futkeu celebrated his professional debut for Eintracht Frankfurt. But the attacking player did not feel like celebrating after the match against 1. FC Saarbrücken. And that was not only due to Eintracht’s DFB Cup round of 16 exit.

With the score at 0:1 from Frankfurt’s point of view, Futkeu was substituted for Mario Götze in the 77th minute. Just six minutes later, Futkeu’s professional debut was over. Or rather, the birthday boy ended it himself.

What had happened? Far away from the action, he kicked Saarbrücken’s Marcel Gaus in the legs from behind on his 21st birthday and had to come off accordingly. Frankfurt’s sporting director Markus Krösche said on Sky after the game: “The assault must not happen. He has to learn that too.”

The official punishment for Futkeu has now been announced. “The sports court of the German Football Association (DFB) has sentenced Futkeu to a ban of three DFB Cup matches in the individual judge proceedings after the DFB Control Committee brought charges against him for an assault against the opponent following an offense previously committed against him. In addition, the player is also banned from all other cup matches of his club until the ban expires,” the official DFB statement reads.

Futkeu and Eintracht have agreed to the verdict, which is now legally binding.

Futkeu moved to Eintracht Frankfurt’s U23s last summer after scoring 30 goals in 32 games for Oberliga club ETB Schwarz-Weiß Essen. He signed a three-year contract on the Main. And Eintracht has high hopes for the former Rot-Weiss-Essen talent.

He has already shown what he is capable of in 16 appearances for the regional league team of the Bundesliga club from Frankfurt. He scored twelve goals in those 16 games. Futkeu missed five matches due to a thigh injury. He will miss three DFB Cup matches due to his red card