VfL Wolfsburg has apologized for the disrespectful behavior and non-compliance with the mask requirement of some players on the train on the way to the away game at Bayer Leverkusen.

Individual players of the Bundesliga soccer club can be seen on a video from the sports show how they drove on Friday without mouth and nose protection despite the mask requirement still in force. In addition, they are said to have made fun of the rules.

"On behalf of the entire team, VfL Wolfsburg apologizes emphatically for the unprofessional and inappropriate behavior of its players and especially the staff of Deutsche Bahn for their disrespectful behavior overall," said the club in a statement before the game in Leverkusen (15.30 clock/sky) with. The events are not in line with the team's usual behavior and are in no way compatible with the club's values.

A WDR employee who happened to be a passenger in the same ICE documented the misconduct of some VfL professionals in the sports show report. The reporter saw how several actors should have reacted to the train attendant's repeated hints with loud laughter. A train attendant told WDR: "I don't think the players' behavior is respectful."

Immediately after arriving at the team hotel, Wolfsburg's head coach Niko Kovac addressed the misconduct in front of the assembled team, it said. "A detailed investigation of the incident will take place after returning from Leverkusen," announced VfL.