Union Berlin manager Bjelica is handed a three-match ban and is fined £21,000

Union Berlin coach Nenad Bjelica was banned for three matches and fined £21,351 (€25,000) on Thursday after he shoved Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane, the German Football Association (DFB) said.

The Croatian coach was sent off after 74 minutes in Wednesday's 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Bayern after shoving Sane.

The player had gone to retrieve the ball from Bjelica near the Union bench for a throw-in.

He pushed the ball out of the coach's hands and Bjelica then put his hands on the Germany international's face twice, pushing him away.

It sparked unsavoury scenes on the touchline with a brawl erupting between staff and players from both teams. Tottenham loanee Eric Dier, who had come on after half-time to make his debut for the Bundesliga club, was also seen trying to diffuse the tension by breaking up Sane and Bjelica.

'Nenad Bjelica was banned for the next three league matches and fined €25,000 for unsporting behaviour,' the DFB said in a statement.

Following the incident, referee Frank Willenborg showed Bjelica a red card for violent conduct, with the 52-year-old being seen venting his frustrations to several fans as he made his way into the stands. Sane was also shown a yellow card for his role in the altercation.

When asked whether he would apologise to the 28-year-old, Bjelica said after the match: 'Only to my team. It's not tolerating it. Not with Sane. He comes towards me to provoke me. Of course I don't react the way I should as a coach. There’s nothing to add.'

'I’m in my zone and want to give him the ball. He pushed me. Then of course I reacted,' he added.

Bjelica, who took over in November, will now miss his team's Bundesliga matches against Darmstadt 98, RB Leipzig and Mainz 05.

Union, who last year finished fourth to qualify