Director Horst Heldt (photo) of 1. FC Köln has reacted to the strong criticism that his clubs received despite. The Bundesliga club decided to continue training despite three positive COVID-19 tests.
Karl Lauterbach, health expert at the Social Democratic SPD, among others, condemned Köln’s choice. “Those who train with COVID-19 risk damage to the lungs, heart and kidneys,” he said.
According to Heldt, no risks are taken. “No one within our club has acted carelessly. The fact is that three people have been tested positive and more than fifty have not been infected,” the director told Bild.
“From that point of view, we assume that our rules and measures are effective. If you take more than a thousand tests in the Bundesliga at the same time, you will also find positive results.”
The Bundesliga is the European top league that is furthest in its plans to finish the season despite the corona crisis. The clubs have been in training for weeks – in adapted form – and the plan is to resume the season from May 9 without an audience.
“We are all now succeeding in making compromises that we had not thought of weeks ago,” said Heldt. “Should group training not be allowed in the near future, we will continue to train in this way.”
FC Köln, where the three contamination cases are said to be two players and a physiotherapist, is the number ten in the Bundesliga after 25 games. ‘Die Geißböcke’ still have a view of European football.
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