Hamburg are set to punish Johan Djourou and Valon Behrami after the pair were involved in a fist fight in the dressing room during a 2-0 defeat to Wolfsburg that left the club at the foot of the table.
Hamburg, the only club to have played in every season of the Bundesliga, failed to create a single chance on Saturday as they slumped to a fourth successive defeat, which leaves them two points away from the relegation playoff spot.
To make matters worse, Switzerland internationals Djourou and Behrami were involved in a fight at half-time when HSV were trailing 1-0.
The club's CEO, Dietmar Beiersdorfer, told Bild: "It was emotional clash. We talked about it, and we took care of it. Anyone who breaks discipline must be punished."
Despite the fight, the duo played on, although former Arsenal defender Djourou was sent off two minutes from time after picking up his second booking.
Peter Knabel, Hamburg's caretaker coach, put the blame on Brazilian defender Cleber for the defeat, saying his performance -- in particular his error prior to the first goal -- had been "a horror show and incredibly stupid."
Hamburg have now taken just two points from their last eight games, and have lost both games since the dismissal of coach Joe Zinnbauer last month. The team's goal drought now stretches to 494 minutes, and they have scored only 16 goals in their 28 league games this season.
The local Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper left two blank pages in its Monday edition under the headline: "Things stirring up hope for Hamburg fans."
Weniger ist mehr... Interaktive Seite 2/3 heute in der @mopo #hsv pic.twitter.com/EwgNWCECfD
- Alex von Kuczkowski (@kucze22) April 13, 2015
Croatian striker Ivica Olic, who has failed to score or set up a goal in 10 games since his winter transfer from Wolfsburg, also expressed little optimism about the current situation.
"My brother told me that even Cristiano Ronaldo would not help us right now," he told reporters.