Cologne director Jorg Schmadtke faces probe after throwing chewoing gum

The German football federation has opened proceedings against Cologne sporting director Jorg Schmadtke for throwing chewing gum toward the Hoffenheim coaching area during a Bundesliga game on Sunday.

Schmadtke reacted furiously when Kevin Volland scored a late equaliser for Hoffenheim to salvage a 1-1 draw while a Cologne player, Lukas Kluenter, was lying on the pitch after what appeared to be a foul from Eduardo Vargas.

Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen said Schmadtke phoned to apologise for his actions after the game and "with that the issue is closed for us."

But the Cologne director, who has already found himself in trouble with the authorities once this season, faces further investigation.

Schmadtke was fined 6,000 euros by the federation's sports tribunal in January for insulting match officials at half-time during Cologne's game at Werder Bremen on December 2, when he shouted: "You eggheads are getting worse from week to week!"