Professional football likes to emphasize its function as a role model, but the pros at VfL Wolfsburg do not assume this role during a train journey. In the ICE for the away game, they disregard the mask requirement in long-distance transport - and make fun of the railway employees who point this out to them.
Actually, it's commendable that the football professionals from VfL Wolfsburg travel by train to the away game in Leverkusen. After all, they could have chosen a short-haul flight, like the German national team did almost two years ago for the 260-kilometer journey between Stuttgart and Basel, because a two- to three-hour bus ride would allegedly make regeneration impossible. So it's actually a good thing that the Wolfsburg delegation is heading to the train station to board the ICE to North Rhine-Westphalia. Actually, because the footballers apparently do not see themselves in a position to comply with the rules that apply on Deutsche Bahn trains.
A video shows numerous professionals sitting in their seats without an FFP2 mask. This has long been mandatory in long-distance transport and should only be removed when it comes to eating or drinking. The "Sportschau" became aware of this breach of the rules and published the video because, according to the report, a reporter from West German Broadcasting happened to be traveling in the same ICE.
This reporter then also heard what a train attendant later said about the manners of the football professionals: "I don't think the behavior of the players is respectful." She was referring to the reactions to the repeated instructions and requests from the train staff to observe the legal requirements and put on the mask. Instead, however, the answer was "collectively loud laughter". According to "Sportschau", one of the professionals, Micky van de Ven, also "put the mask on his head like a hat for a short time".
There is talk of up to warnings, combined with the quote from a train attendant that it is "slowly embarrassing" to have to point this out again and again. Which apparently led Paulo Otavio to point out to his teammates and those sitting next to him that he should only open his mask briefly when railway employees came by. The idea of solidarity, of protecting oneself and others with the minimum restriction of one's own comfort, apparently did not arise during this trip on Friday evening.
It is also said that the "Sportschau" tried on the train to get a reaction to the events from VfL Wolfsburg. After all, the Bundesliga club replied and told WDR that he could "only apologize for it" and would "follow the matter". A trip to their own fan shop, which offers FFP2 masks in the colors of the home and away jerseys, would be a good idea. Presumably, however, it needs much more an appeal to the role model function that professional football otherwise likes to invoke.
A few hours before kick-off, the club made another statement, apologizing "strongly for the unprofessional and inappropriate behavior of its players and especially for the staff of Deutsche Bahn for their disrespectful behavior overall". Coach Niko Kovac also addressed this behavior in front of the team. In addition, "a detailed review" should take place.
(This article was first published on Saturday, October 22, 2022.)
