Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski has been reported to the German police for slapping his Germany captain Michael Ballack during last week's 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Wales in Cardiff.

Podolski disagreed with an instruction from the Chelsea midfielder who said: 'Lukas still has a lot to learn. If he has a different opinion then we can discuss it off the pitch. But he has to accept the captain's decision on it and in no way should he get physical.'

The matter could see the Germany international in court and Guenther Feld, a senior prosecutor for Cologne, said: "We received an anonymous complaint on Monday."

Podolski admitted he was "an idiot" for striking Ballack and the German Football Federation said the Bayern Munich forward would pay 5,000 euro towards a Fair Play initiative. "We have passed the procedure onto the public prosecutor's office in Munich, which is responsible for the surrounding region," Feld confirmed.

"But because the game took place in Cardiff, it is now to be handled in the area of Podolski's place of residence."