VfL Wolfsburg's Kevin de Bruyne was on Monday fined 20,000 euros ($22,661) by the German Football Association (DFB) after being found to have sworn at a ball-boy during a Bundesliga match.

The 23-year-old Belgium international snapped "Give me the ball, you motherfucker!" at a ball-boy late in Wolfsburg's 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt last Tuesday.

His punishment was for "unsportsmanlike conduct in the form of crass behaviour," said the DFB in a statement.

Wolfsburg have 24 hours to appeal and request a hearing in front of the DFB's sports court.

De Bruyne's rant was audible on television and the midfielder is reported to want to give the youngster, who plays for Frankfurt's Under-16 team, a signed playing shirt.

De Bruyne is having a stellar season for Wolfsburg having scored eight times including the goal in the draw with Eintracht.