German footballer Tim Lemperle rushed to hospital after being ‘assaulted’ and out of crucial Bundesliga promotion clash
GERMAN football star Tim Lemperle was rushed to hospital after sustaining injures to his face during an assault on a night out.
Koln star Lemperle will likely miss Sunday’s huge promotion final against Kaiserslautern for a place in the Bundesliga next season.
Lemperle reportedly suffered a broken nose and a gash on his face on Sunday evening, according to German outlet Bild.
The report claims that the striker was out with friends in a borough of Cologne.
A fight broke out in a boathouse bar near the bank of the River Rhine with another group, before things settled down.
But Lemperle and his pals were allegedly attacked while leaving the venue later at 9pm local time.
The 23-year-old former Frankfurt star was taken to a local hospital where he stayed overnight until Monday morning.
Koln boss Friedhelm Funkel hasn’t had any contact with Lemperle, who was forced to miss training on Monday afternoon.
Funkel said: “I know he was physically assaulted on Sunday. He sustained facial injuries.
“The likelihood of him playing on Sunday is slim. It can’t be completely dismissed, but it is slim. I can’t say anything more about it.”
The police are investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses.
Lemperle has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 24 second division appearances this season.
And he was nailed on starter for the final, after having been named in the starting XI in 22 out of 24 league games this term.
FC Koln finished second in Bundesliga 2, behind Hamburg who were automatically promoted to end a seven-year absence from the German top flight.
Lemperle’s team-mates take on Kaiserslautern, who finished just inside the playoff places in sixth, in the final.