Berlin:A senior German politician expects the Bundesliga to “tighten up” instructions on how to celebrate goals after some players hugged – breaching strict hygiene protocol – when the league resumed this weekend.
The German season restarted on Saturday after a two-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic with clubs having agreed to draconian hygiene guidelines in a plan approved by the German government.
“Football has an extreme function to be a role model, so we should stick to our instructions and pay attention to it next week,” Markus Soeder, state minister for Bavaria, told broadcaster Sport1 on Sunday.
The Bundesliga is the first top European league to resume during the COVID-19 outbreak. Players were told to avoid contact whenever possible, especially when celebrating goals – yet that was ignored on a few occasions.
Hertha Berlin’s Marko Grujic was kissed on the cheek by team-mate Dedryck Boyata on Saturday after their side took the lead in a 3-0 win against Hoffenheim. “I didn’t like it,” Soeder said sternly, referring to Hertha’s protocol breach. Earlier this month, the capital city side had already suspended ex-Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou for posting a video of him shaking hands with team-mates in the dressing room before training. Also on Saturday, some Borussia Moenchengladbach players hugged after their team scored two early goals in the 3-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. “The players must also obey the rules,” added Soeder. The German Football League (DFL) has said it would not sanction any players for not sticking to the guidelines at the weekend – but that could change.
Hertha coach Bruno Labbadia defended his players for their celebrations, insisting it is part of the game. “We’ve been tested so many times that we can allow it,” said Labbadia, who was taking charge of Hertha for the first time. “If you can’t celebrate anymore, the whole thing breaks down.” Borussia Monchengladbach scored twice in the opening stages to smooth the way for a 3-1 away win over Eintracht Frankfurt behind closed doors in the 26th round of the Bundesliga. The “Foals” had a fairy tale start to the “ghost game” as Alassane Plea exchanged a one-two with Jonas Hofmann before slotting home into the far corner to shock Frankfurt just 37 seconds into the clash on Saturday.
Monchengladbach benefited from the momentum and added another goal to their lead only six minutes later when Marcus Thuram poked home a square pass from Ramy Bensebaini.
Frankfurt showed their first vital signs with 23 minutes played when Filip Kostic tested Yann Sommer with a free kick hammer from 25 meters out before Stefan Ilsanker pulled the rebound just wide.
However, the visitors posed more of a threat and were able to get another shot on target as Thuram forced custodian Kevin Trapp into action before the half time.
After the restart, chances were at a premium but the game sparked back to life in the 68th minute when Plea rattled the woodwork with a curling shot from the edge of the box.Moments later Monchengladbach were awarded a penalty as Evan Ndicka brought down Breel Embolo inside the box. Bensebaini stepped up and kept his nerves to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. (AFP)
