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Joshua Kimmich is in focus after reports on his vaccination status
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via www.imago-images.de / imago images / MIS
A few minutes after FC Bayern's confident 4-0 win against Hoffenheim, Joshua Kimmich was on the microphone of the Sky TV channel - as is so often the case after a game.
Only this time he didn't have any sporting questions to answer.
It wasn't about his 12.4 kilometers, his ball contacts or assists.
It was about his vaccination status.
"Yes, that's right," said Kimmich, when asked about reports that he had not yet been vaccinated.
Joshua Kimmich?
Not vaccinated?
He of all people?
It was the topic of the Bundesliga Saturday.
Together with his teammate and friend Leon Goretzka, Kimmich is the founder of the “We Kick Corona” initiative.
Just six weeks ago, the organization announced the donation of 500,000 euros to Unicef to support vaccinations for around 132,000 people in poorer countries around the world.
On September 8th, »We Kick Corona« tweeted: »Corona can only be permanently brought under control if sufficient vaccine can be administered all over the world."
How does it work when one of the faces behind the organization that promotes and donates to vaccinate others doesn't get themselves vaccinated?
"Often in our society I have the impression that someone who has not been vaccinated is labeled and put under pressure," said Kimmich at Sky.
He has concerns about "the lack of long-term studies," but does not categorically rule out vaccination.
"I may still be vaccinated," said Kimmich.
The 26-year-old explained his motives calmly and objectively, saying that it is not that he is a corona denier or an opponent of vaccinations.
For many weeks, many months it recently seemed as if football had come to an end, as if the Bundesliga had come to terms with the pandemic and its side effects.
But just around Saturday, when FC Bayern, with 60,000 spectators, let as many people into its stadium as it has not for more than 19 months, the topic is more present than it has been for a long time.
Nagelsmann is corona-positive
It was not until Thursday that the corona infection of Julian Nagelsmann, who had been vaccinated twice, was known, who had already looked after the team in Leverkusen last Sunday in poor health and who, despite his condition, flew to Lisbon on Tuesday.
Then the "Bild" newspaper reported that five professionals in the Bayern squad were not vaccinated.
Julian Nagelsmann announced on Friday that, as in Germany, there is no compulsory vaccination at Bayern.
“I will never make anyone of common sense do it.
I just advocate doing it.
You can ask in the clinics how the course is in non-vaccinated people. "
But Kimmich's vaccination status could also have an impact on the entire team, if only for the rules in the event of an infection.
Unlike Nagelsmann, Kimmich could not test himself free after just five days.
As an unvaccinated person, he would have to be in quarantine for 14 days in any case, the Bavarians would have to do without their midfield star.
As Kimmich said, the club pays for the mandatory tests for unvaccinated people.
And what about the access restrictions in the stadiums?
As with many other Bundesliga clubs, the 2G rule for adult viewers, i.e. those who have recovered or who have been vaccinated, also applied last Sunday at the BayArena in Leverkusen.
And what about the actors on the lawn?
Why, as an unvaccinated person, can you play football downstairs, but not sit up in the stands?
Because you go about your work?
It stands to reason that a discussion could begin again about the special rights and privileges footballers have.