Kaiserslautern's Paul Joly will miss 2. Bundesliga opener in Wolfsburg with mysterious suspension | OneFootball

Kaiserslautern announced on Wednesday morning that they will be without defender Paul Joly for their trip to Wolfsburg on Saturday. The 2. Bundesliga season will commence this weekend with Bochum hosting Hertha a day before the Topspiel between the two teams at Volkswagen Arena.

However, the visitors suddenly faced a late setback as the French Professional Football League (LFP) communicated the news that Joly breached violation of guidelines regarding sports betting during his time at AJ Auxerre in the 2024/25 season. While some players and coaches were suspended for seven games in a statement issued by LFP in mid-January, Joly's name appeared among those fined for only a single game.

Kaiserslautern clarified that the suspension will apply now since it was transmitted to the German Football Association before this season's opener. The document doesn't specify what offense Joly is alleged to have committed, but it stated that “professional footballers are generally prohibited from betting on any kind of football competition, whether national or international.”

The 26-year-old right-back permanently joined Kaiserslautern this summer after his successful loan spell last term. The Frenchman only missed five games as Torsten Lieberknecht's side finished sixth in 2. Bundesliga.