Enlarge image
German volleyball player Florian Krage (2nd from right) attacking Italy during the Nations League in Quezon City, Philippines
Photo: IMAGO/ROUELLE UMALI/IMAGO/Xinhua
The German volleyball players did not play their game against China as part of the Nations League in the Philippine city of Quezon City.
21 members of the Chinese delegation, including several players, tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in the island nation.
While the Chinese game against France on Wednesday was still canceled, the local authorities declared the Chinese team fit to play on Thursday.
Because the German volleyball players refused to play before the game without another official test, the game was scored 3-0 for China.
"For us it is incomprehensible how the FIVB (the world association, ed.) would not even want to play the game against China five days after the positive PCR tests without ensuring the greatest possible safety for everyone involved with another PCR test «, said the German Volleyball Association (DVV) in an official statement.
In an official statement from Volleyball Philippines, the host of the tournament series, the requested re-testing was not mentioned.
Instead, the document reads like an accusation that the German volleyball players did not compete.
»The FIVB does not consider it necessary to increase security for us players through a single official control test.
That makes us angry and stunned," said captain Christian Fromm of the ARD sports show.
National coach Michal Winiarski explained that he "cannot force the players to play against potentially infected opponents".
FIVB has rejected proposal to transfer
The world association did not follow the suggestion to postpone the game to a later date, the DVV announced: »Physical health has the highest priority for us as a team.
That's why we made the decision not to play the game against China."
DVV sports director Christian Dünnes assured the sports show that they would have liked to play against China: "But with the restriction that you can assume healthy opponents."
Germany has three wins and three defeats in the Nations League.
The next stop is Osaka, where national coach Winiarski's team will play against the USA, Brazil, Australia and hosts Japan from July 5th.
see/sid