German federation expects no FIFA sanctions on Podolski

Lukas Podolski Hamburg  - The German football federation DFB believes FIFA will take no action against Lukas Podolski over a pitch altercation with captain Michael Ballack during Germany's 2-0 victory over Wales in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Podolski struck out a hand which made slight contact with Ballack's cheek during an angry exchange of words in a second-half incident.

A DFB spokesman said Friday it did not believe football's world governing body FIFA would punish the Bayern Munich striker for unsporting behaviour as the referee took no action at the time.

Only if a referee reports that he did not see an incident can it lead to retrospective action.

The two players made up after the game, and the DFB decided not to impose any sanctions on Podolski who was quoted in Friday's Bild newspaper as admitting he "over-reacted a bit." dpa

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