Hertha Berlin defender Patrick Ebert has been fined by the club after questioning coach Lucien Favre's decision to leave Josip Simunic on the bench for last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Arminia Bielefeld.

Simunic's omission had raised a few eyebrows with Favre later explaining the move was part of some "tactical alterations" to the team which beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 six days earlier.

Ebert was in no doubt, however, that the Croatia defender should have played, telling ARD television: "I and the rest of the team do not understand it. The coach picks the team, but he (Simunic) won 88 per cent of his tackles in our last game and it is surprising."

According to a report in the Berliner Morgenpost, Ebert has been fined 5,000 euros for his outburst.

Hertha assistant manager Michael Preetz revealed Ebert's fine will go to charity, adding: "Patrick will donate an agreed sum to social institutes."

The 21-year-old was also asked to offer an apology to Favre, which he duly did, although that seems unlikely to iron over the differences which threaten disharmony at the Olympic Stadium.

The division in the Hertha camp was underlined against Bielefeld when, following Marko Pantelic's opener, the players ran to celebrate with Simunic on the touchline - ignoring Favre as they did so.

Simunic has himself had plenty to say about his omission, telling the Berliner Kurier: "Probably even Albert Einstein could not explain why I did not play. That really annoyed me and there is no explanation for it, whatever anybody says."

At least one issue in Berlin has been resolved, however, with Patrick Okoronkwo returning direct from the Olympic Games Beijing on Monday.

Okoronkwo had toyed with the idea of joining his Nigerian team-mates at a reception in the African country after winning the silver medal, but chose instead to return to Germany and abide by Hertha's wishes.