Cottbus defender da Silva banned for seven games

BERLIN, May 9 (Reuters) Brazilian defender Vragel da Silva has been banned for seven games by the German Football Association (DFB) for elbowing an opponent in a Bundesliga game last week.

TV evidence showed Da Silva, the Energie Cottbus player, to make contact with Hanno Balitsch in his side's 2-0 defeat by Hanover 96 last Friday.

The ban for violence conduct means Da Silva will be suspended for the first five games of next season as well as the remaining two rounds in this season's championship.

Reuters JK SBA VP0225