Nigerian midfielder Sunday Oliseh has been released by Borussia Dortmund after he broke a team mate's nose in a fight while on loan at VfL Bochum.

Oliseh was sacked earlier this month by Bochum, the club he had joined on loan in 2003. Dortmund, who still paid part of the player's salary, said in a statement on Friday that they had released him from a contract which ran until 2005.

The decision followed a clash with Iran striker Vahid Hashemian in the Bochum changing rooms after a 0-0 draw with Hansa Rostock on February 28.

A heated exchange ended with Oliseh head butting Hashemian and breaking his nose.

Oliseh, who has previously played for Juventus, Ajax and Cologne, will be able to join a new club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old midfielder was part of the Nigeria squad who won the African Nations Cup in 1994 and the Olympic title in 1996.

He fell out of favour with the national team leadership after he led a protest over non-payment of air fare refunds during the African Nations Cup in Mali in February 2002 and was not selected for Nigeria's World Cup squad later that year.