Former Liverpool midfielder Keita suspended for ignoring the Bayer tie

Werder Bremen has suspended former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita until the end of the Bundesliga season.

After discovering he had been omitted from the starting line-up, the 29-year-old refused to travel for the clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Keita refuted the accusation in a response on Instagram, claiming Bremen's sporting director Clemens Fritz was attempting to 'tarnish' his reputation.

Bremen announced on Tuesday that Keita had been suspended for the rest of the season and handed a 'substantial fine'.

A club statement read:

"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 added:

"SV Werder Bremen have suspended Naby Keita 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."

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."

A combination of injuries and Africa Cup of Nations duty with Guinea has limited Keita to just five appearances in all competitions this term.

Keita joined the Bundesliga club last summer after a five-year stay on Merseyside.