Baumgartl to train with U23s and handed a monetary fine after breaking conduct rules

Sporting director André Hechelmann and head coach Thomas Reis met with Baumgartl to discuss how the defender had gone against the club’s code of conduct. “The management team and the coaching staff are always open for a constructive and critical dialogue with the team, which we have seen over the last weeks, with the understanding that this takes place internally in order to allow for appropriate solutions to be found,” said Hechelmann. “Timo understands this and immediately acknowledged that he had made a mistake and offered an apology, which we accepted.”

As a consequence, Baumgartl will spend the upcoming week training with the club’s U23s, in addition to paying a monetary fine. The defender accepted the sanctions during his meeting with Hechelmann and Reis.

“It wasn’t my intention for my words to have the effect they did, and it’s something that shouldn’t happen to a player with the amount of experience that I have. That’s why I apologised to Thomas Reis and André Hechelmann and I’m glad that they accepted. I know that I now need to make up for this,” said Baumgartl.

Ahead of the upcoming week of training, which will culminate in an away game on Friday, Hechelmann said “My expectations are clear: As of this moment, we need to be fully focused on the game in Paderborn. We will not leave any room for excuses.”