Bayern, Schalke, and Frankfurt board members given warning by DFB for not practicing proper social distancing

Front office members from Bayern Munich, Schalke, and Eintracht Frankfurt have all been given a warning by the DFB for not practicing proper social distancing from one another inside the venues during their respective Bundesliga openers (kicker). Bayern hosted Schalke at the Allianz Arena while Frankfurt hosted newcomers Arminia Bielefeld at the Deutsche Bank Park, however Frankfurt was scolded more for the fact that two players in their squad brought their children into the club’s bubble after the match. All of these instances violate the DFL and DFB’s hygiene protocols.

During Bayern’s 8-0 win over Schalke, board members from both clubs were seated near each other in an area of box seats. While the clusters of members were separated from one another, the individuals comprising said clusters were seated directly adjacent to one another, which is breaking protocol given the fact that the seats are not 1.5 meters apart from one another. “Both members of the Munich and Schalke delegations sat in the stands next to each other or one behind the other without maintaining the minimum distance of 1.50 meters stipulated by the concept to wear mouth and nose protection,” the DFB said earlier today.

Uli Hoeness, Herbert Hainer, Oliver Kahn, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge were all seated right next to each other and/or Schalke board members during the match, all not wearing masks. Ironically enough, DFL CEO Christian Seifert was also in attendance and was seated in the row above and behind all of the board members, but didn’t appear to ever instruct everyone to make sure they were 1.5 meters apart. Of course, he was separated by one seat with the individual that was sitting to his left (he was in an isle seat).

For now, the DFB has decided not to begin proceedings into the matters, but all three clubs have been thoroughly warned to “carefully observe the provisions of the [hygiene protocol] concept” in the future. If problems do occur again, they could be punished and have to plead their case(s) in front of the DFB. The kicker report ends by saying representatives from Bayern have already apologized for breaking protocol, but it did not specify who, or what was said.