The Bundesliga duel between Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund is on shaky ground. The reason: A large number of players and coaches in the Rheinhessen have been infected with the corona virus.
Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05 is struggling with a massive corona outbreak immediately before the 25th matchday. 19 members of the fully immunized licensed players area, consisting of professionals, coaches and other employees, have tested positive and have gone into isolation. The club announced on Thursday. For next Sunday (3.30 p.m./in the t-online live ticker) the home game is against Borussia Dortmund scheduled.
For the time being, the public training for the professionals planned for Thursday afternoon was canceled, and the players who tested negative completed individual training instead. The club is now in close contact with the Mainz health department and the German Football League (DFL) with regard to the further procedure.
Mainz needs 16 operational players
BVB was also immediately informed “by the DFL and the club”, said Sebastian Kehlhead of the Dortmund player department: “We will continue to prepare professionally for the match. As of now, we are assuming that the game can take place next Sunday.”
According to the DFL rules of the game, a club can only apply for a match to be dismissed under the current regulations if fewer than 16 players (including amateurs who are eligible to play) are available.
The short-term corona problem is not a new situation for Mainz: Immediately before the start of the season, the club had to complain about eleven infections in the ranks of the professionals last August. The game against runners-up RB Leipzigalso on the following Sunday, nevertheless took place – and Mainz won 1-0.
