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Unsportsmanlike conduct and the following penalty for Gladbach's U23 coach Heiko Vogel have caused great frustration and disappointment among German professional footballers.

On Saturday morning, players in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 published an open letter to the German Football Association (DFB) in which they complained about Vogel's verbal misconduct towards two assistant referees from the West German Football Association (WDFV) and the corresponding punishment.

“The question that arises is how training a women's or girls' team can be made a punishment.

Training for a football coach is never a punishment, but a vocation, regardless of gender (...) This judgment discriminates against all women in sport and especially in football.

We feel insulted, discriminated against and ridiculed, ”said the letter published by DFB captain Alexandra Popp and other players.

Popp wrote: "We are in the year 2021 !!!"

As a condition, Vogel was to lead six training units for a women's or girls' team by the summer.

Vogel's behavior, which Gladbach's manager Max Eberl also called “definitely a mistake”, is in the eyes of the players “far more than unsporting, but rather insulting and discriminatory”.

Addressed directly to the DFB, it was said: "We urge you, as the highest institution of German football, to take a stand and to take action."

Review of the verdict was ordered

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The DFB and Vice President Hannelore Ratzeburg reacted to the letter a little later.

"I can understand the great anger of the players and understand that they make themselves heard in public," wrote Ratzeburg.

It is "incomprehensible that one decrees a training of a women's team as part of a punishment," added the functionary.

The DFB wrote that they had been in an exchange with the WDFV for several days.

Its presidium has already ordered “a review of the judgment”.

The WDFV Presidium sees the arrangement of the edition (six units with women's teams) as "critical".

Vice President Gundolf Walaschewski called for a "complete processing and examination" of the events at the regional league game, which took place at the end of January.

Gladbach manager Eberl had already made an unsolicited comment on the subject on Friday.

For Eberl, the penalty was a two-game suspension, a fine from the association and "on top" a fine from the club.

“Heiko definitely made a mistake.

What he said is inappropriate.

We also disapprove of that here in the club, ”said Eberl.

Vogel offered in the course of the negotiation that he could lead the units of the women's teams.