Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu has been banned by FIFA for four months and will miss the remainder of the current campaign, reports German outlet Express.
Calhanoglu, 22, has been in sensational form for the Bundesliga outfit this season and his absence is a real blow to Leverkusen’s chances of catching those above them in the race to finish in the European qualification places.
FIFA have found Calhanoglu guilty of a breach of contract dating back to an agreement he reached with Turkish side Trabzonspor back in 2011 when he played for Karlsruhe as a minor.
Rather than join the Turkish side, Calhanoglu signed a new contract extension with Karlsruhe before joining Hamburg in 2013 and FIFA have now banned the Leverkusen No.10 for the remainder of the 2016/17 campaign.
The Turkey international is currently Leverkusen’s highest rated player in the Bundesliga (7.49) having played a direct hand in 11 goals in 15 league appearances (six goals, five assists).
In the last four Bundesliga campaigns, Calhanoglu has scored at least six more direct free-kicks than any other player (11).
For more stats on Hakan Calhanoglu, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
