SV Werder Bremen have suspended former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita until the end of the season.

The Bundesliga club also handed the midfielder a substantial fine. The 28-year-old will no longer train with the team or be part of the first-team dressing room. Keita refused to hop on the team’s bus after being told he wouldn’t be in the starting team even though several players were missing. As a result, he didn’t travel to Leverkusen, where Bremen were defeated 5-0 and the hosts were crowned Bundesliga champions.

Bremen later said they would release a statement about the incident later on Monday. “That action says everything, I don’t need to say much more. Everyone can form their own opinion, I’ve formed mine,” coach Ole Werner said after the match.

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“We will talk to him and his agent tomorrow about the consequences and the next steps,” Bremen’s head of football Clemens Fritz had already said before the game.

Bremen’s Fritz said of the decision to suspend the Guinea international player: “As a club, we won’t tolerate Naby’s behaviour. He let his team down in a time of difficulty surrounding our recent run of form and squad availability and put his interests above those of the team. We can’t allow that. At this stage of the season, we need full focus on the remaining games and a team who sticks together.

“That’s why we’ve been left with no alternative.”

Another statement on the club’s official website said: “After finding out that he would not be in the starting XI against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Naby Keïta chose not to travel to the ground with the team, and decided to go home instead.”

Keita joined Bremen last summer in a top transfer that sparked a lot of excitement. However, due to several injuries, the midfielder couldn’t live up to expectations and has played only five games in the Bundesliga. His contract runs until 2026.