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Schalke suspend three players

Xinhua, May 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Schalke reacted on current performances and suspended Kevin Boateng, Sidney Sam and Marco Hoeger, the "Royal Blues" announced in an official statement on Monday.

After the club's 2-0 loss to newly promoted Cologne on Sunday, manager Horst Heldt threatened the players, who are not willing to give everything for the club in the last two rounds of the season, with consequences.

"In the next 14 days we will see who is willing to give everything for the club. Those who are not willing to help us won' t play for Schalke again."

One day after the loss, Heldt turned rhetoric into action and released Schalke's midfielders Kevin Boateng and Sidney Sam with immediate effect. Meanwhile, Marco Hoeger gets a one-week pause for reflection.

"After the impressions of yesterday's loss and long talks we decided to release Sidney Sam and Kevin Boateng. Besides the missing bond of trust we don't think that both players can help us in the last two games," Heldt told Sky Sport News.

Things look different in the case of midfielder Marco Hoeger, who will be suspended for one week. "We talked to Marco as well as we also doubt his loyalty towards the club. Nevertheless, we give Marco one week to consider. He gets the chance to ponder over his current situation. After that week we will discuss whether it makes sense to continue our cooperation or not."

The "Royal Blues" slumped to the 6th place of the Bundesliga table to endanger their UEFA Europa League berth for next season as local rivals and 7th placed Dortmund sit just two points away. Still Europa League would be a setback for Schalke, who played Champions League this season. Endite