The German Football Association (DFB) has launched an investigation into Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface following an alleged offensive gesture during Bayer Leverkusen’s Super Cup victory over VfB Stuttgart.
According to reports from German outlet Weltfussball, Boniface allegedly made an inappropriate gesture by showing his outstretched left middle finger to opposing players as he ran past them after the final whistle. The 23-year-old Nigerian striker had earlier opened the scoring in the 11th minute of the match before being substituted after teammate Martin Terrier was sent off in the first half. Bayer Leverkusen eventually secured the trophy through a penalty shootout.
Although the match’s referee, Tobias Stieler, indicated that he did not witness the alleged gesture, the DFB’s control committee has decided to investigate the incident further. Despite a lack of conclusive evidence or TV footage, players from VfB Stuttgart have maintained their claims that Boniface was offensive with his gesture.
In addition to this incident, Boniface was shown a yellow card in the 80th minute for dissent while on the bench after a VAR decision went against Bayer Leverkusen.
As of now, the potential consequences for Boniface remain unclear, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Victor Boniface has been instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen’s recent successes, contributing significantly to their double-cup triumph last season. The Nigerian forward notched 21 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, earning him the Rookie of the Year award and helping Bayer Leverkusen secure their first-ever Bundesliga title.