Mohamed Amoura has been suspended by VfL Wolfsburg for disciplinary reasons, a decision that saw the Algerian international left out of the squad for Friday’s Bundesliga defeat by Cologne.
The striker’s absence from the matchday squad for the 20th round of the German top flight raised immediate questions, particularly given his importance to the team this season.
Wolfsburg later confirmed on social media that Amoura had been sidelined for “disciplinary reasons”, without initially expanding on the matter. The club went on to lose the match 1-0.
Amoura, Wolfsburg’s leading scorer this campaign with seven goals and on target in the previous league fixture, has endured a difficult period in recent weeks.
After a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations, where his performances failed to meet expectations, attention has now shifted to his conduct at club level.
Following the defeat in Cologne, Wolfsburg head coach Daniel Bauer offered clarification on the decision to omit the forward. “The team comes first.
Mohamed hasn’t fully respected that this week. Consistency is key, which is why he’s not playing today,” Bauer said.
He also suggested the sanction could be short-lived, adding: “On Monday, he’ll give his all in training again and fight for his place.”
Details of the incident emerged later. According to the Wolfsburg News website, the issue stemmed from a training session earlier in the week.
During Wednesday’s practice, Bauer split his squad into two groups for a tactical exercise, with Amoura placed in the B team. The striker is reported to have reacted poorly to the decision.
Visibly frustrated, he left the session before it had concluded, despite further work, including set-piece drills, still being scheduled.
The coaching staff reportedly viewed the early departure as unacceptable behaviour and opted to exclude him from the squad for the trip to Cologne as a consequence.
The episode has also revived concerns about Amoura’s discipline, as it is not the first time his attitude has been questioned.
Last season, he was involved in a physical altercation with a teammate during training.
Although Wolfsburg chose not to impose a suspension on that occasion, the incident raised internal doubts about his emotional control.
Wolfsburg’s struggles have continued in Amoura’s absence.
The defeat in Cologne extended their winless run to three matches, leaving the Saxon club in 12th place in the Bundesliga.
For now, attention remains on whether the forward can quickly put the incident behind him and earn his way back into the team.
