Football and the vaccination debate: arguments at the limit of tolerance

Just don’t use the wrong word: In the sensitive debate about vaccinations for football professionals, many Bundesliga clubs try to deal tolerantly with the views of their players. Most clubs advocate vaccinations for their professionals, but no one should be forced. “It is important to respect different opinions and continue to operate good medical education in terms of health protection,” said Ulf Baranowksy, managing director of the players’ union VDV, at the request of the German press agency. Borussia Dortmund’s coach Marco Rose also thinks: “When it comes to vaccinations, everyone has to decide for themselves.”

But the discussion remains exciting. The example of FSV Mainz 05 shows how difficult it is for the clubs to deal with this issue. The Mainz team had to play against RB Leipzig at the weekend, although eleven players were in quarantine. Three players and an assistant coach had tested positive, eight other professionals plus two people from the coaching staff had to be isolated as contact persons because they were probably not vaccinated.

Mainz thinks about obligation only for vaccinated people

VfB Stuttgart also recently had three corona cases in its squad, which is why the Swabians only played their test match against FC Barcelona two weeks ago with vaccinated players and therefore with a rump eleven to be on the safe side. While VfB does not want to force anyone and instead wants to convince its players with arguments in favor of a vaccination, the quarantine of several players in Mainz could even have an impact on the squad planning in the future.

“As of today, I can hardly imagine that Mainz 05 will sign another player who has not been vaccinated,” said Mainz board member Christian Heidel. BVB coach Rose, on the other hand, does not believe in discrimination against non-vaccinated players in the composition of his team. “I look at the footballing qualities of the boys,” said the 44-year-old.

So what’s the best way? One thing is certain: in the search for the right way to handle this complicated matter, those responsible at all clubs are at the limit of tolerance. Practically every Bundesliga coach would want a fully vaccinated squad, because otherwise, in the worst case, a scenario similar to that in Mainz could threaten. However, every Bundesliga coach also knows that if I increase the pressure on my players, I enter extremely sensitive social territory.

In Stuttgart every non-vaccinated professional is tested daily

“In the end it is a free decision that every player can make,” said Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. “But it is also about ensuring the health of the team. That means that non-vaccinated people have to be tested regularly.” This is how most clubs do it. Those who have not been vaccinated or recovered have to do a corona test practically every day. Nevertheless, the clubs do not give up their efforts to ultimately persuade their players to have a vaccination with facts. “We try to convince with arguments,” said Fürth’s sports director Rachid Azzouzi.

This could also have something to do with the fact that the DFL increased the vaccination pressure on its clubs before the start of the season. In a circular sent to “Bild”, DFL boss Christian Seifert appealed to the solidarity of the players: “It should be in the common interest not to endanger the performance of the clubs as employers and, under certain circumstances, the resulting negative impact on the sport To prevent competition in the spirit of solidarity, “it said.

But Seifert also takes care not to speak of a compulsory vaccination. According to sports lawyer Paul Lambertz, the DFL would certainly have a handle in this regard – for example indirectly by allowing clubs only to use vaccinated players. “All football admission rules have to withstand an antitrust test, but this should work with the requirement that only vaccinated players are allowed in the squad,” Lambertz recently told the “WAZ”.