German FA hits Heidenheim striker Budu Zivzivadze with three-match-ban | OneFootball

The bad news continues to rain down on last-placed Bundesliga side 1. FC Heidenheim. Saturday’s league loss against Borussia Dortmund has now cost the relegation-threatened side two players. Striker Budu Zivzivadze will not be available for head coach Frank Schmidt until mid October thanks to a straight red card picked up early in the match. The DFB issued a stern punishment on Tuesday.

Heidenheim stood little chance against heavily favored Dortmund thanks to starting left-back Leart Paçarada’s 7th-minute injury and Zivzivadze’s 22nd-minute red card. Yesterday, it was revealed that Paçarada suffered a serious ACL tear that will keep him out for most of the season. Zivzivadze’s open-sole stomp of Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha has earned him a three-match-ban.

The Georgian striker counts as a massive transfer flop for Heidenheim after scoring only two goals in 23 competitive appearances for the Ostalbenschwaben since joining from Karlsruher SC in January 2024.

Schmidt nevertheless maintains very few options in attack. The only player to have scored a goal for Schmidt’s team thus far this season, Leo Scienza, has since departed the club for the Isle.

GGFN | Peter Weis