Aubameyang baffled by latest suspension

Following the news of his suspension for Friday's Bundesliga match for turning up late for training on multiple occasions, the French-born Gabon striker told the mass-circulation newspaper Bild on Friday that he couldn't understand why Dortmund had taken the measure.

"I could understand why I was suspended for Milan because I did not respect the rules, but this time I am truly baffled. I did not want to arrive late," he said.

Aubameyang was referring to his suspension last year, after he traveled to the northern Italian city for a party without the club's permission. Pictures of his junket to Milan subsequently emerged on Instagram.

In Friday's report, Bild also claimed that there was more behind Aubameyang's latest suspension than repeated tardiness. The report said the real reason for his ban was that BVB officials had found him working on a commercial with camera team at Dortmund's facilities — without the club's permission. The club's rules bar players from engaging in activities that have to do with their sponsorship deals or other forms of marketing in the two days leading up to a match.

Borussia Dortmund had announced Aubameyang's latest suspension via Twitter late on Thursday, without explaining the reasoning behind it.

It's not clear whether the club will lift Aubameyang's bans in time for BVB's Champions League match against Tottenham next Tuesday.

Top goal scorer

His 31 goals in 32 matches made Aubameyang the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season. So far he has 10 goals in 11 league matches, but he has failed to score in his last five games in all competitions.

Before the season, rumors circulated that Aubameyang was set to make a big money move to Paris Saint-Germain or even China. However, none of the rumored transfers came to fruition.