In the latest in a long line of disciplinary problems, the defender went missing following Cameroon`s defeat to Egypt in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Instead of flying from the tournament in Ghana directly back to Germany, it is believed Atouba defied orders and went to his homeland.
Not Much To Say
Yesterday`s meeting with sporting director Didi Beiersdorfer last only 15 minutes - it appears HSV now have little time for the problematic defender, who in previous instances has been sent home from training for having a poor attitude and fined and banned for swearing
at the club`s own fans. He had also publically criticised bosses at Hamburg for not offering him more money on a previous contract.
Atouba has now been suspended internally by the club until further notice and been slapped with a whopping €60,000 fine - the maximum possible. "When rules are not obeyed you have to act tough," said Beiersdorfer yesterday of the club`s decision. The Cameroonian`s days at the HSH-Nordbank Arena are clearly numbered, with a summer sale almost certain.
On Yer Own
"He`s been released from team training and until further notice he`ll be training alone," revealed coach Huub Stevens. Hamburg had a similar problem last season with striker Danijel Ljuboja, now of Wolfsburg. True to his word Stevens froze the Serb out of first team action for the remainder of the campaign.
25-year-old Atouba joined HSV in 2005 from Tottenham Hotspur and has made 61 appearances for the Rothosen.
