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Oliver Bierhoff (archive image)
Photo: Marius Becker / dpa
In the debate about the vaccination status of national player Joshua Kimmich, DFB director Oliver Bierhoff stood behind the Bayern professional.
"The discussions about the vaccination quota are understandably very emotional," the 53-year-old told the "Bild" newspaper: "But I have no understanding that Joshua is now being publicly pilloried."
At the end of October it became known that Kimmich had so far decided against a vaccination against the coronavirus due to “personal concerns”. According to his own statement, the 26-year-old is skeptical about the “lack of long-term studies”. In the subsequent debate, in which even the federal government intervened, some criticism of Kimmich's attitude was formulated. Ex-national player Paul Breitner had emphasized in the Bayerischer Rundunk that he had "zero understanding" for the fact that Kimmich was endangering himself by his decision.
Kimmich's former teammate, Philipp Lahm, pointed out in a series of discussions in the »Süddeutsche Zeitung« that Kimmich, who is otherwise involved in combating the pandemic with Leon Goretzka through the »We Kick Corona« initiative, has a »role model«.
Lahm also questioned where the 26-year-old's views came from: "You can have that opinion," Lahm said.
But the question arises: "How does he come to this opinion?" Lahm himself explained that he would have tried to convince Kimmich if Kimmich were still his teammate.
Support from Podolski and Rummenigge
Lukas Podolski, however, had taken protection from Kimmich.
The former national player told the "Bild" newspaper that he did not understand why Kimmich was "portrayed as a felon" for his decision.
The former Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had declared his confidence that Kimmich would “make the right decision at some point”.
"We as the DFB have started a vaccination campaign ourselves and encourage everyone to get vaccinated," said Bierhoff: "However, there is also no question that we do not have to be vaccinated in Germany and therefore accept Jo's attitude and continue to fully support him as a national player. «Those responsible at FC Bayern had previously struck a similar tone:» At the end of the day there is no compulsory vaccination with us, «had emphasized club president Herbert Hainer.
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