Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry is obviously not the only Bundesliga player recently affected by COVID-19, but things seem to be getting more serious. Hertha Berlin’s current situation is starting to look bleak as the new and more intense wave of the coronavirus takes over the world.
In the wake of a virus outbreak within the club that forced the players and staff to go on self-isolation for two weeks, Bundesliga have postponed Hertha Berlin’s next three league matches. The swab test results of Dodi Lukebakio, Marvin Plattenhardt, coach Pal Dardai and his assistant Admir Hamzagic returned positive. Hertha were scheduled to play Mainz, Freiburg and Schalke on 18th, 21st and 24th of April respectively.
“We tightened the hygiene measures again during the last international break, and with it the hope that Rune Jarstein’s positive result would remain an isolated case. Unfortunately, this has not been the case”, sporting director Arne Friedrich commented.
ℹ️ The @DFL_Official has postponed #M05BSC, #BSCSCF and #S04BSC due to our players being in quarantine. New dates will be announced in due course.#GemeinsamHertha #HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/slJ6Y3N7au
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) April 16, 2021
This is an absolutely devastating turn of events for Hertha, who are battling relegation from the 15th position in the league table. Due to the strict self-isolation measures, the club won’t be able to appear for three of their six league games as scheduled.
“Due to the cases that have occurred, we are now forced into a 14-day quarantine at home. From a health point of view, this is absolutely the right step. From a sporting point of view, it affects us, because we now have to fight to stay in the league with six Bundesliga games by the end of the season on May 22”, added Friedrich.
Hertha’s possible return will be against Arminia Bielefeld on May 8th. The club and the league altogether need to be more alert of the situation before things get out of hand. It is important to remember that this is how things started a year back before it all went south.