DFB warns clubs: Mask celebrations must be punished

It comes after Borussia Dortmund celebrated a goal during their 3-0 victory over Schalke with a couple of superhero props.

Goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played the role of Batman, donning a mask that doubled up as a cape, while his sidekick Marco Reus popped on a Robin eye mask.

The former was booked, but Reus escaped punishment. The DFB have moved to clarify this and said both players would be disciplined in future.

“Perpetrators of these rules, which are explicitly stated in football rules nationally and internationally, will be given zero tolerance by referees if they are perceived to have broken them,” stated the letter.

“Every player who covers their head or face, for example with a mask, will receive a yellow card.”

Herbert Fandel, chairman of the DFB’s refereeing committee, added: “Emotions belong on the pitch, especially the joy of scoring a goal. We don’t want to seem too inflexible, but we can’t let things go too far. If a player covers his head or face, there is no discretion."

Fast-improving Borussia Dortmund notched their fourth straight Bundesliga win after beating Schalke to keep their faint European hopes alive.

It’s not the first time Aubameyang has evolved into a superhero for a celebration.

In the German Super Cup win over Bayern Munich in August, he pulled on a Spiderman head cloak after scoring.