German defender Christian Traesch has spoken out after a group of football fans verbally abused him and his wife at their home in the latest in a recent wave of aggressive acts by fans in Germany.
The 24-year-old Wolfsburg defender was the target of constant boos and jeers by a group of Wolfsburg fans during a home defeat to Hoffenheim two weeks ago, but then endured more of that same at his home afterwards.
"I didn't know what to do," Traesch, who was part of the German squad that lost 2-1 to France in Bremen last week, told German daily Bild.
"There was a few of them standing there, they were clearly drunk and yelling.
"Going out would not have been the best idea and after a few minutes it was over, but my wife was worried.
"She was alone in the house for the next few days because I was then away on international duty."
It is the latest in a series of separate incidents in Germany where fans have acted aggressively.
Kaiserslautern's Israeli striker Itay Shechter was subjected to anti-Semitic insults by a small group of fans during training after a heavy defeat ten days ago.
The incident, which police are investigating, was condemned by both the Israeli embassy in Berlin and the German Football Federation (DFB).
And last weekend, a bus full of Moenchengladbach fans was attacked at a motorway service station by hooligans wearing the red and white of Bundesliga rivals Cologne.
"I think what is happening in Germany at the moment is bad," said Traesch.
"The violence is way over the top and has nothing to do with football."
He added: "Fans have to be allowed to show their displeasure and whistle, but better they do it after the game and in the stadium.
"What is happening at the moment is not the game I know. The whistles and jeers aimed at me certainly made me unsure of myself and I hardly put in a pass afterwards.
"I always try to give everything during a game and give 100 percent for the team, but sometimes things don't work out as you'd like."