German footballer spends the night in hospital after being 'attacked' on night out - and will miss crucial game in his side's season

A German footballer has been taken to infirmary aft helium was allegedly assaulted connected a nighttime out.

The star, who plays for Cologne successful the 2nd part successful Germany, volition present apt miss his side's crunch crippled against Kaiserslautern connected Sunday. Cologne are presently 2nd successful the table, but volition gaffe retired of that presumption if they suffer and SV Elversberg oregon Paderborn triumph their games.

Tim Lemperle, who plays arsenic a guardant for the club, was, according to Bild, retired connected Sunday evening with friends successful a borough of Cologne erstwhile helium suffered a breached chemoreceptor successful a confrontation.

A combat is said to person breached retired successful a boathouse carnivore adjacent the slope of the River Rhine, involving Lemperle's radical and different group.

Lemperle and his friends were allegedly attacked astatine astir 9pm section clip erstwhile leaving the venue earlier things calmed down.

The player, though, was reportedly taken to a section infirmary and stayed successful overnight earlier leaving connected Monday morning, 2 days aft helium had played against FC Nuremberg successful league action.

The constabulary are said to beryllium investigating the incidental and are appealing for witnesses.

The forward's manager, meantime - Friedhelm Funkel - admitted the antheral is improbable to play a portion successful the last crippled of the league season.

'I cognize helium was physically assaulted connected Sunday,' The Cologne brag said. 'He sustained facial injuries.

'The likelihood of him playing connected Sunday is slim. It can't beryllium wholly dismissed, but it is slim. I can't accidental thing much astir it.'

The erstwhile Frankfurt forward, who has besides played for the likes of Mainz and for Germany astatine assorted younker levels, has scored 10 goals for his broadside this season. He has played chiefly arsenic a centre forward, but is besides comfy connected the close wing.