The ban for third division player Dennis Erdmann from 1. FC Saarbrücken because of allegations of racism has been shortened by the DFB Federal Court.
In the appeal hearing on Wednesday in Frankfurt / Main, the committee changed the sentence for the 30-year-old.
The two games outstanding until the end of the original suspension on October 25 have been suspended until the end of the current season.
Erdmann has already missed five games.
In addition, the fine of 3000 euros was canceled, as the German Football Association announced on Wednesday.
The DFB control committee had submitted a corresponding application to change the sentence. Erdmanns Klub Saarbrücken had appealed against the judgment of the DFB sports court. Erdmann is said to have racially insulted several opponents in the Saarlanders' game on August 25 against 1. FC Magdeburg, as witnesses from the Saxon club assured. The defender denied the allegations several times.
Erdmann's lawyer Horst Kletke stated according to the DFB in the hearing that the appeal was limited to the sentence.
The player did not make the statements imputed to him, but if there were misunderstandings, then Erdmann would be sorry.
"In order to mitigate the sentence, despite the serious incidents, the Federal Supreme Court took into account that this fictitious confession spared the 13 witnesses from having to be questioned again and burdened," said the presiding judge Achim Späth.
The judgment of the federal court is binding.