A senior German politician expects Bundesliga to ‘tighten up’ instructions on how to celebrate goals after players hugged when the league resumed.
The German season restarted this weekend on Saturday after two months of suspension by the coronavirus pandemic with clubs having agreed to the extreme 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,” Mark Soeder, state minister of Bavaria, told broadcaster Sport1 on Sunday.
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The Bundesliga is the first top-ranking European league to resume amid the Covid-19 outbreak. With players told to avoid contact whenever possible, especially when celebrating goals but that was ignored on a few occasions.
Hertha Berlin’s Marko Grujic was kissed on the cheek by teammate Dedryck Boyata on Saturday after their side took the lead on a 3-0 win again Hoffenheim.
“I didn’t like it,” Soeder said sternly, referring to the Hertha’s protocol breach.
Dedryck Boyata becomes the first player in Europe to break strict social distancing regulations in the Bundesliga after appearing to kiss teammate Marko Grujic.
Earlier this month, the capital city side had already suspended former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou for posting a video of him shaking hands with teammates in the dressing room before training.
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Also on Saturday, some Borussia Moenchengladbach players hugged after their team scored two goals in the 3-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.
“The players must also obey the rules,” Soeder added.
The German Football League (DFL) has said it would sanction any player for not adhering 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.”
