A Bundesliga star has landed himself in boiling water after he appeared to mock his club’s managing director for sport.
Florian Neuhaus, who plays for Borussia Monchengladbach and formerly the German national team, has been fined a reported £87,000 and exiled to the under-23s for four weeks.
A video spilled across social media showing Neuhaus seemingly mocking a senior official and boasting about his salary while drunk on holiday in Mallorca.
In the footage, he counts on his fingers and says ‘Don Rollo gives Florian Neuhaus one, two, three, four million’ while also saying ‘he is the worst manager in the world,’ via BILD.
Rollo is a nickname for managing director for sport Roland Virkus, though it is unclear who he is referring to when he mentions the ‘worst manager in the world’.
‘Florian Neuhaus’ behavior and statements are damaging to the club and unacceptable,’ said managing director Stefan Stegemann as the club announced their penalties against Neuhaus.
Borussia Monchengladbach player Florian Neuhaus has been banished from the first team
He appeared to mock managing director for sport Roland Virkus (right) on holiday in Mallorca
Neuhaus has been sent to the under-23s and fined a reported £87,000 by the German club
In the clip, Neuhaus (left) mentions Virkus before referring to the ‘worst manager in the world’
‘He has harmed the club with his words and deeply disappointed those involved. This is incompatible with the club’s values.’
Virkus is a respected figure at the German club, where he has served as youth coach, head of the boarding school, head of the youth academy, and managing director for sport in a 35-year stint.
Neuhaus, 28, joined the German powerhouses in 2017 and has generally been a mainstay in the team, though he played a reduced role last season.
He was an important part of their fourth-placed finish in the 2019-20 season and their subsequent run to the Champions League last 16, where they lost to Manchester City.
The midfielder has previously been linked with City and Liverpool but a move has not transpired and he renewed his contract in 2023.
That deal runs until 2027 but it is unclear if he will play for the club again after this controversy.
Neuhaus is yet to comment on the incident.
However, as per Bild, he affirmed his desire to stay at the club just a fortnight ago at the wedding of Germany player Maximilian Mittelstadt.