New German soccer virus cases highlight risks of resuming
Hertha Berlin suspend Kalou for video flouting virus rules
BERLIN, May 5, (AP): New coronavirus infections among German soccer squads revealed on Monday highlighted the challenge for European leagues to restart during the pandemic.
The ongoing severity of the outbreak was not grasped by striker Salomon Kalou, who was suspended by Hertha Berlin for flouting social distancing measures by livestreaming himself fist-bumping teammates and bursting in on an apparent COVID-19 test – all while complaining about a pay cut.
The new infections hurt the Bundesliga’s hopes of the resuming this month. Chancellor Angela Merkel and 16 state governors will determine on Wednesday if the risk of infections spreading at stadiums is too great – even without spectators.
Ten positive COVID-19 cases were reported from 1,724 tests conducted across the 36 clubs in Germany’s top two divisions. Hertha’s squad was given the all-clear but the team said Kalou gave the “impression that individual players are not taking the coronavirus issue seriously, especially in the current discussion about a resumption of play.”
Games are likely to be restricted to key personnel across Europe for many this far-reaching decision which goes against fairness in sport.”
The northern French team was nextfrom-last in the 20-team Ligue 1 with 10 games left and was four points behind 18th-placed Nimes. The bottom two teams are automatically relegated and Amiens said the “fairest choice” would be to expand Ligue 1 and make it a 22-team division for the 2020-21 season.
Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin suspended and heavily criticized its striker Salomon Kalou for broadcasting a livestream showing social distancing measures being flouted at the club.
The Ivory Coast player took his phone with him on Monday as he fist-bumped teammates in greeting, clapped hands with fellow forward Vedad Ibisevic, complained about a pay cut, and burst in on a teammate apparently being tested for the new coronavirus.
“Kalou did not only cause great damage to Hertha BSC with his video, but has given the impression that individual players are not taking the coronavirus issue seriously, especially in the current discussion about a resumption of play and professional soccer’s role,” Hertha general manager Michael Preetz said.
The footage, which has since been deleted, was broadcast on the same day the German soccer league (DFL) reported 10 positive cases of COVID-19 among the country’s 36 clubs in the top two divisions, and it appeared to contradict the league’s assertion that everything was being done to prevent the spread of the virus.
It showed Hertha’s Jordan Torunarigha being tested by a physiotherapist who was wearing only a simple face mask as protection. The physiotherapist, David de Mel, repeatedly asked Kalou to “delete” the video, before the player walked away laughing, saying he was “only joking.”
The club laid the blame squarely on Kalou.
“Hertha BSC would like to state that this was the failure of a single player. The fact that other team members did not draw his attention to this misconduct and instead returned his greeting by handshake shows that the regular references to distance and hygiene rules must be made even more strongly,” Hertha said in a statement.
The club said it was suspending Kalou “with immediate effect” without saying when he will return. Kalou apologized for the footage. “I am sorry if I gave the impression that I am not taking corona seriously. I want to apologize for that. The opposite is the case because I am particularly worried about the people in Africa as medical care there is nowhere near as good as it is in Germany,” Kalou said. “I didn’t really think, and was happy that all our tests were negative. I would also like to apologize to those shown in the video, who did not know that I was broadcasting live and who I did not want to put in such a situation.”
The DFL sharply criticized the footage on Twitter.
“The pictures from Salomon Kalou from the changing room of Hertha BSC are completely unacceptable. There cannot be any tolerance for it – also with regard to the players and clubs who are adhering to the guidelines, because they have grasped the seriousness of the situation,” the DFL said.
Clarke