COVID Concerns for Bayern & Germany: RB Salzburg, Ukraine National Team contingents test positive

Both Bayern Munich and the German National Team are facing potential problems with regards to a handful of their future opponents’s players testing positive for the coronavirus, as there’s been an uptick in cases in Europe. In addition to fears of the virus being spread to Bayern and Die Mannshcaft players and staff members, there are also potential squad selection ramifications based on all of the quarantine protocols for individuals who come in to contact with people who have tested positive for the virus, which is less than ideal in a season that has such packed fixture schedules.

Per a new report from Bild, two players from the Ukrainian National Team have tested positive for the virus just days ahead of Germany’s UEFA Nations League match against them. Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov and midfielder Taras Stepanenko from Shakhtar Donetsk have tested positive for the virus. Four other players on the squad have also been quarantined as a precaution for having come into direct contact with positive cases. Said players have not travelled with the team to Paris for their friendly against France and will not be allowed to until they receive negative tests.

Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images

At this current juncture, the positive tests in the Ukrainian team should not affect this weekend’s Nations League match against Germany, per German National Team press chief Jens Grittner: “As far as we know, only Ukrainian players with a negative test have come to Paris. We assume that the situation will be accompanied by the responsible health authorities and the UEFA.”

Additionally, because Kiev, Ukraine is a high risk area, strict protocols have been enforced in the city, so the German team shouldn’t have to face a two-week quarantine upon returning to the country. This was re-iterated by DFB director Oliver Bierhoff when he said “For us, responsibility towards the clubs is very important. Thanks to the exception rule, we can also guarantee that our players do not have to be quarantined after their return. Every time you hear a positive case, you first think about what it means. You always have to consider several aspects. There are UEFA requirements, requirements of the respective country and even of the individual regions.”

In addition, per a report from Az, Bayern’s Champions League group A opponents RB Salzburg confirmed that three of their players had tested positive. Bayern is scheduled to play them on October 27th at the Allianz Arena. The club did not release the names of the three players that tested positive out of a confidentiality policy, but the rest of the squad now faces quarantine measures to the extent that they can only travel between their homes, the training grounds, and match venues, given that they get negative tests in routine testing. The club also stated they will not have any of their players travel with their national teams for the international break as a precaution.

Photo by Raddad Jebarah/NurPhoto via Getty Images