BERLIN: Five players from Germany’s national football squad are in quarantine after one of them tested positive for coronavirus, the German federation (DFB) said Tuesday.
The infected player is fully vaccinated and currently asymptomatic, said the DFB, without naming him.
But Bild daily has identified the player as Niklas Suele of Bayern Munich.
Four other players were meanwhile asked to isolate because they are close contacts of the infected individual, even though they have tested negative, the DFB said.
“This news, coming so close before the closing World Cup qualifiers, is bitter for the coaching team as well as for Die Mannschaft,” said DFB director Oliver Bierhoff.
The latest high profile case comes as Germany is fighting a surge in new infections, with its seven-day Covid rate striking a new record on Tuesday.
It also puts the spotlight again on Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich, with Bild asking what this means for the unvaccinated player.
Kimmich, who captained Germany in a recent World cup qualifier, had sparked a fierce debate in the country last month when he revealed he opted not to get vaccinated, because of “personal concerns.”
It even prompted Interior Minister Horst Seehofer to urge him directly to rethink his position as “vaccination is the main weapon in the fight against the pandemic.”
Kimmich appears to be in the minority as more than 90 percent of footballers and backroom staff in Germany’s top two leagues are vaccinated, according to figures released last month by the German Football League (DFL).
Five German national footballers in quarantine over Covid
https://arab.news/p4pa4
Five German national footballers in quarantine over Covid
- The infected player is fully vaccinated and currently asymptomatic, said the DFB, without naming him
- Bild daily has identified the player as Niklas Suele of Bayern Munich
’Flag can fly’ as Russia wins first Paralympic medals in 12 years
- IPC has allowed six Russian athletes and four from their allies Belarus to represent their countries
- Voronchikhina said: “For us it’s been a really long time when we were without a flag
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy: Russia won its first Winter Paralympic medals since 2014 on Saturday as Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev claimed bronze in the women’s and men’s downhill standing events in Cortina.
Despite Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allowed six Russian athletes and four from their allies Belarus to represent their countries, accompanied by their national flags, rather than competing as neutrals.
The move sparked a backlash with Friday’s opening ceremony being boycotted by seven countries, including Ukraine, and the Russian delegation was booed by some spectators in the Verona Arena during the athletes parade.
Speaking after winning her nation’s first medal since the 2014 Games in Sochi, 23-year-old Voronchikhina said: “For us it’s been a really long time when we were without a flag.
“I’m really glad and all my country and all my teammates also.
“I’m very happy because it’s the first medal for me.”
Russia was banned from the 2018 Games due to a doping scandal, although some athletes were permitted to compete under neutral colors.
Russia and Belarus were then banned from the 2022 Paralympics following the invasion of Ukraine, although they were permitted to compete as neutral athletes in the Paris Summer Paralympics two years later.
Four years ago,
Voronchikhina said that four years ago in Beijing, she was ready to compete before Russia was suspended by the IPC.
“In Beijing we were there,” the Paralympics debutant said. “I had third training in downhill and after we (had to) go back home.
“For me it was really, really sad and I hope in these Games I will be better and it will be.”
Later on Saturday, three-time gold medallist Bugaev picked up the eighth medal of his Paralympic career as he finished third in the men’s downhill standing.
“It was a difficult medal, I would say, even one of the most difficult of my career,” he said. “But I am very happy that I can represent my country again.”
The 28-year-old added: “It’s nice when you’re not deprived of anything, not restricted, not forced to not reveal yourself, like it was in Korea (2018) for example, when they combined the two colors of our flag.
“We’re just happy that we can compete here on equal terms. And even more so to bring home a medal so that the flag can fly.”
Both Voronchikhina and Bugaev received a polite smattering of applause from the crowd at the bottom of the Olympia delle Tofane piste as their medals were placed around their necks during the podium ceremonies.
At least one Russian flag was held aloft in the stands to greet their success.
