SV Ried Faces Bundesliga Match with Severely depleted Squad Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
RIED, Austria – SV Ried will play its upcoming Austrian Bundesliga match against Hartberg with only eleven available field players after a important COVID-19 outbreak swept through teh club, impacting players and coaching staff. Even head coach Maximilian Senft has fallen ill, yet intends to be present on Sunday.
The Innviertler are in a “dramatic personnel situation,” according to Sports Chief Wolfgang Fiala, who confirmed a large portion of the coaching team is also affected. “We are now looking at day by day. There is a lot of improvisation,” Fiala stated. The Austrian Bundesliga rejected Ried’s request for postponement, forcing the team to rely on players from its second team, the “young Vikings,” and academy players to fill the squad. Despite the crisis, the goalkeeper trio led by captain Andreas Leitner, and veterans Michael Sollbauer and Saliou Sané remain healthy and will be relied upon for experience.
Ried is further weakened by the absence of Nicolas Bajlicz, Jonas Mayer, and Peter Kiedl, who are currently with the U21 national team. Fiala acknowledged the uphill battle,stating a “wonder of the world” would be needed to secure a positive result against Hartberg.The team was hoping to build on a recent 3-1 derby win against LASK. The club’s priority is now the recovery of sick players ahead of their next match against Austria Vienna on September 20.