West German FA Criticized for Making Coach Train Women's Team as 'Punishment'
Mar 17, 2021
Basel's coach Heiko Vogel, from Germany, gestures to supporters at the end of their Europa League Group G soccer match against Sporting at Sporting's Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The West German FA (WDFV) is drawing criticism for requiring a Borussia Monchengladbach under-23 coach train the women's team as a form of punishment, according to ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld.
Uersfeld wrote Heiko Vogel was banned for two matches for "unsporting behaviour" toward the officials during a U23 match in January. As a consequence, he received a €1,500 fine and was ordered to coach a women's or girl's team for six training sessions.
German football journalist Nicole Selmer explained the obvious issue with the decision.
"It shows that at whatever level women and girls play football, they are not taken as serious as men and boys," Selmer said. "This punishment for the Gladbach coach puts coaching a women's team on a level with social work. But it's not like that. Women's football is a sport, and those who participate in it are as professional as their male counterparts.
"If you strip away everything and give it to them they have good intentions, it is still sending a fatal message, as coaching a women's or girls' team is part of a punishment for a misconduct."
The WDFV declined to comment, telling Uersfeld the ruling was "pending litigation."
The Gladbach women sit third in the northern group of Germany's second division. They're unbeaten through two matches and play Cloppenburg on Sunday.
Vogel has completed his two-match ban and will be back coaching the U23 team on Saturday.
Video: Borussia Monchengladbach Use Cardboard Cutouts of Fans Amid Pandemic
May 23, 2020
Leverkusen's and Moenchengladbach's players hold a minute of silence ahead the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Moenchengladbach v Bayer 04 Leverkusen on May 23, 2020 in Moenchengladbach, western Germany. (Photo by Carsten Lappe / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by CARSTEN LAPPE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach got creative Saturday in the absence of fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As seen in the following video courtesy of BT Sport, the club placed 12,000 cardboard cutouts throughout their Borussia-Park stadium:
Borussia Mönchengladbach's cardboard cut out fans are something else! 🙌
12,000 in the stadium so far, and 20,000 have been ordered.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 23, 2020
BT Sport noted that fans were allowed to upload a photo of themselves to be used for a cardboard cutout at the price of €19 ($21). A portion of those proceeds will go to charity.
After the league was suspended for about two months because of COVID-19, the Bundesliga returned to action last week in empty stadiums.
Monchengladbach entered Saturday third in the table with 52 points, putting them two points behind second-placed Borussia Dortmund and six points behind first-placed Bayern Munich.
The Foals hosted fifth-place Leverkusen, who had the opportunity to leapfrog Monchengladbach in the standings with a win.
Denis Zakaria's Agent Rules out January Transfer Amid Arsenal, Liverpool Rumours
Nov 18, 2019
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: Denis Zakaria of Borussia Moenchengladbach looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and SV Werder Bremen at Borussia-Park on November 10, 2019 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
The agent for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria has said the player will not move on in the January transfer window despite speculation linking him with some of European football's biggest clubs.
The Switzerland international has been a key player for the German side this season, making 11 appearances and helping the team take a surprise lead at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Zakaria's performances have led to some talk about a transfer, although his representative Mathieu Beda has played down suggestions of a midseason exit, per Sport Bild (h/t Rich Jones of the Daily Mirror).
"Denis will not leave Borussia in the winter, a change is 100 per cent excluded," said Beda of the 22-year-old.
United are interested in signing the player as a replacement for Ander Herrera, who left Old Trafford to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Arsenal are reported to be ready to include Granit Xhaka, a former Monchengladbach player, as part of a deal to bring Zakaria to north London.
Although Liverpool have also been mentioned as possible suitors, James Pearce of The Athletic dismissed any notion that the European champions would be making a move:
Been told that the speculation about #LFC and Ryan Fraser is wide of the mark. Claims that they are in talks over a January move dismissed as 'nonsense'. Liverpool have also recently been linked with Denis Zakaria from Gladbach but Klopp happy with his midfield options.
Monchengladbach have surged into a four-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table. Marco Rose has built an exciting side that is packed full of dynamic young players.
Zakaria epitomises what the side is all about in many respects, as he's a combative and enforcing presence at the hub of the team.
The Swiss provides an excellent shield in front of the defence. Zakaria is also tidy in possession, and he can steam forward with the ball, take on opposition players and fire shots at goal too; he's already chipped in with two goals this term.
Bundesliga's Alex Chaffer thinks the midfielder is the most underrated of Monchengladbach's players:
While a move away from the German club midseason appears to be off the cards for Zakaria, interest will no doubt continue throughout the campaign if he keeps performing.
Given the position they're in, Borussia would surely be at loath to lose him or any of their star players in January given they appear to have an opportunity to accomplish something special in the months to come.
Thorgan Hazard Has 'No Premier League Offers' Amid Arsenal, Liverpool Rumours
May 6, 2019
Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl has said there have "unfortunately" not been any offers from Premier League clubs for Thorgan Hazard, amid rumours Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in the Belgium international.
Hazard seems likely to join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund, and Eberl told Sport1 (h/t Goal's Chris Burton) a transfer to another German club is "more realistic" than a switch to England: "Unfortunately, there is no offer from England. The German market is more realistic than the English one."
The player himself already told VTM (h/t sportswriter Kristof Terreur) he has a personal agreement with Dortmund, but the two clubs have yet to agree a fee:
Gladbach are still wanting more than €40m for Thorgan.
The €40 million (£34 million/$45 million) asking price could be a sticking point, and Monchengladbach's negotiating position would be a lot stronger if English clubs were hoping to land the winger as well.
Formerly of Chelsea, Hazard has blossomed into a quality forward in Germany. He has scored nine goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga this season and finished the 2017-18 campaign with 10 goals in the competition.
The 26-year-old has also become a regular for the Belgian national team, where he combines well with his brother Eden Hazard.
Here is a look at what makes the versatile forward such a strong weapon:
Dortmund will have to replace star prospect Christian Pulisic in the summer—the American will be joining Chelsea. In Hazard, they could land a player who would likely be an upgrade in the immediate future, as he has been more productive than the 20-year-old from Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Hazard joined Chelsea in 2012 but never got a run in the senior team and spent time on loan with Zulte Waregem before joining Monchengladbach. Given his lack of opportunities in the Premier League, his preference to stay in the Bundesliga seems logical.
Per Burton, his contract is set to expire in 2020, so Monchengladbach will have to agree to a transfer in the summer to maximise their earning potential.
