Negative corona test or quarantine: the holiday returnees and football
District - In August, soccer coaches face special challenges, and not just in the lower leagues. On the one hand, the training ranks are noticeably thinned out during this time due to the vacation. On the other hand, footballers returning home from Mallorca, Italy and Co. like to bring a broken fitness and a few extra kilos back home with them.
This year, on the other hand, travelers - and thus also vacationing footballers - can potentially have a much bigger problem in their luggage, namely a virus called Covid-19. The danger is particularly high when staying in the so-called risk areas. These include the Robert Koch Institute, among others, parts of Croatia, the Spanish mainland including the Balearic Islands and the USA. Those returning from these countries have had to undergo a corona test since August 8th.
Many football clubs in the region also require a negative test before they let their players back on the pitch. "We sent an email to all members and informed them that returnees from risk areas are only allowed to go back to training if they have either been in quarantine for a fortnight or have a negative test," says Matthias Schmidt, head of department at TSV Ottobrunn . In this way, the aim is to reduce the risk "that a player will shoot his own team or club and thus destroy all the work of the past few weeks," says the division boss.
The Bayern league club SV Pullach is doing a very similar thing when it comes to returning travelers. “We have a compulsory test”, emphasizes Robert Bäumel, manager of the first team. “I know from all the players who is where on vacation. And if someone has been in a risk area, they first have to submit a negative test before they can go back to training. ”This is how it was dealt with, for example, with goalkeeper Marijan Krasnic after his return from vacation in Croatia, says Bäumel. "He immediately brought a negative test." Alternatively, quarantine for two weeks has not been an option for any kicker, reports the manager. “The boys all want to train. I didn't have to encourage anyone to get tested. "
Whereby the clubs are of course dependent on the honesty and solidarity of their kickers when it comes to returning travelers - especially when it's not just about a higher-class team like the Bayern league team Pullach, but about the entire club including the youth sector. "One hundred percent security is not possible", knows Rupert Feistbauer, department head at TSV Sauerlach. "But we appeal to the common sense of our members." According to Feistbauer, the management of the TSV has sent a letter to all trainers in which it is made clear that all holidaymakers from risk areas either have a negative test or have to go into quarantine. "And I very much hope that everyone sticks to it," says the division head.
Even at FC Deisenhofen, all coaches have been instructed to inquire about the holiday destinations of their players, says chairman Martin Schmid. "And anyone who has been in a risk area is only allowed to go back to training after a test." Some players in the Bayern league squad had to take a break for several days after their return from Croatia, reports the club boss. “They were only allowed to go back to training after two negative tests.” Such precautionary measures are essential, “otherwise we endanger everyone in the club and the planned restart,” says Schmid. The chairman emphasized that regular and at least halfway regular training was urgently needed, especially in the field of young talent. “The boys need exercise and the fun of football. Otherwise they just sit at home all day and look at the screen. "
