Ninth red card – became the sole record holder

When the 31-year-old received his eighth red card in September, he shared the less flattering football record with Luiz Gustavo, Brazil, and Jens Nowotny, Germany.

The ninth sending off of his career came just over ten minutes after Danny da Costa scored the 1-1 goal and saved a point for second-placed Mainz on Friday evening.

Table sixth Hoffenheim took the lead early in the match after Mainz Norwegian defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen headed the ball into his own goal from long range.