Bayer Leverkusen defender Wendell was on Tuesday handed a three-match ban for the horror tackle on Gonzalo Castro which tore the ankle ligaments of the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

Brazilian left-back Wendell was shown a straight red for his crunching tackle on Castro's right ankle in the first-half of Dortmund's 1-1 draw at Leverkusen last Saturday.

The Germany international had to be helped off following the foul and is expected to be out for several weeks, while Wendell was sent for an early shower.

The German FA (DFB) have banned Wendell for the next three league games with an extra one-match ban to come into effect should he appear before the disciplinary board before December 31 2018.

It means he will not play in the Bundesliga again until after the winter break, which starts on December 17.

Wendell has yet to make an appearance for the Selecao but was called up for World Cup qualifiers last year.

Dortmund suffered a double blow in the draw at Leverkusen as winger Maximilian Philipp had to be stretchered off with a knee injury, which the club say will keep him out "for months".

Germany's World Cup winner Mario Goetze is already sidelined until the new year with an ankle injury.