Naby Keita has been handed a 'substantial fine' and banned from Werder Bremen's first team until the end of the season.

The former Liverpool midfielder took to social media to reject claims he went home after being omitted from his side's starting line-up for the game against now-Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

That claim was made club director Clemens Fritz, who stated Werder Bremen would be speaking to the Guinea international and his adviser.

Now, following the club's 5-0 defeat to Leverkusen, Werder Bremen have confirmed Keita has been handed a punishment.

A club statement read: "Werder Bremen have suspended Naby Keïta until the end of the season. The club have also handed the midfielder a substantial fine.

"The 29-year-old will no longer train with the team or be part of the first-team dressing room."

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Fritz said: "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 own 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 stick together. That’s why we’ve been left with no alternative."

The statement then doubled down on Fritz's original accusation.

"After finding out that he would not be in the starting XI against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Naby Keita chose not to travel to the ground with the team, and decided to go home instead," it concluded.

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