Florian Neuhaus returns to Borussia Mönchengladbach training after four-week suspension

Florian Neuhaus, the 28-year-old midfielder for Borussia Mönchengladbach, has returned to first-team training after a four-week suspension imposed by the club. The suspension followed the emergence of a video in which Neuhaus appeared to mock the club’s sporting director, Roland Virkus.

In the video, filmed during a vacation in Mallorca, Neuhaus was seen discussing Virkus with several individuals wearing Gladbach kits. He referred to Virkus as “the worst manager in the world” and commented on his €4 million annual salary. This incident led to significant controversy and prompted the club to take disciplinary action.

As a result, Borussia Mönchengladbach fined Neuhaus approximately €100,000 and suspended him from first-team activities for four weeks, during which he trained with the under-23 team. The club’s CEO, Stefan Stegemann, condemned Neuhaus’s behavior, stating that it was “damaging to the club and unacceptable,” and that it “deeply disappointed those involved.”

Upon his return to training, Neuhaus publicly apologized for his actions. He expressed regret for his behavior and emphasized his commitment to rebuilding trust with the club and its fans. Neuhaus acknowledged his longstanding professional relationship with Virkus, characterized by appreciation, respect, and trust, and stated his intention to do everything possible to restore this mutual trust.
Virkus accepted Neuhaus’s apology, indicating that the matter was resolved and expressing expectations for Neuhaus to refocus on contributing to the team’s success. He emphasized the importance of moving forward and anticipated Neuhaus’s full commitment in training.

Neuhaus joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2017 and has made over 200 appearances for the club. However, his role in the previous season was limited, featuring in only 17 league matches as the team finished 10th. The midfielder, who has also represented Germany at the international level, will now look to regain his place in the first team and contribute positively to the club’s objectives in the upcoming season.