Union Berlin manager Nenad Bjelica banned for three matches after clash with Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane

Union Berlin head coach Nenad Bjelica has been banned for three matches after he was involved in an altercation with Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane.

The reigning Bundesliga champions claimed a 1-0 victory over Berlin on Wednesday, but Bjelica received a red card after he shoved Sane in the face on two occasions during a clash on the touchline.

The incident took place late in the second half when the ball went out of play and Sane attempted to grab the ball from Bjelica.

The Germany international appeared to initiate the contact by pushing the Berlin head coach before he reacted and pushed Sane's face twice before the pair had to be separated.

As a result of his actions, Bjelica will now miss Berlin's next three matches and the German Football Federation (DFB) condemning him for "unsportsmanlike behaviour".

“The 1. FC Union Berlin team will have to do without head coach Nenad Bjelica for the next three Bundesliga matches,” the statement read on Thursday.

“The sports court of the DFB has banned Bjelica from the next three Bundesliga matches of his club and fined him €25,000 for unsportsmanlike behaviour."

It added: “Bjelica and 1. FC Union Berlin have agreed to the judgement, which is therefore legally binding.”

Bjelica will not be on the sidelines during Berlin's matches against Darmstadt, RB Leipzig and Mainz.

Speaking to ESPN after the match, Bjelica described what happened from his point of view.

"In my coaching zone, I tried to take the ball and give him the ball and he pushed me," he explained. "He was provoking me and then I react like I don't have to react.

"I wanted to push him from me and then came the fourth referee and the main referee to show me the red card."

When asked if he had apologised to Sane, he replied: "No. That's emotions in football. You see many emotions on the pitch, out of the pitch.

"That was the wrong emotion in this case, I made a mistake. I'm sorry for this mistake but as I said, if I could change it now, I would not do it. That's football, I must accept it and try not to repeat this type of mistake."

The Croatian has been in charge of the Bundesliga club since November and was brought in to steady the ship after a dismal start to the campaign.

After qualifying for the UEFA Champions League last season, Berlin have struggled this time around and find themselves in 15th place and three points above the relegation play-off spot.

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