Berlin (AFP)
Goal celebrations that do not respect the health imperative of social distancing will not be sanctioned, a spokesman for the German Football League (DFL) said on Saturday after an embrace between two footballers from Hertha Berlin during the resumption of the Bundesliga.
The way to celebrate a goal is "not part" of the medico-organizational protocol implemented by the league to allow the resumption of the German championship, the first major football competition to restart despite the coronavirus pandemic.
"For the celebrations, only advice has been given and therefore there can be no sanctions," said a spokesman for the DFL after the first five matches of the 26th day of the championship.
If the majority of players have respected the indications, for example beating their elbows to congratulate themselves, the Belgian defender of Hertha Berlin Dedryck Boyata kissed on the cheek his teammate Marko Grujic after the first goal of their team against Hoffenheim.
"I hope people will understand. Holding back (celebrating) is just an indication. We tested six times negative for coronavirus, the last time yesterday. Emotions are part of the game too, otherwise we don’t we don't need to play, "argued Bruno Labbadia, Hertha's coach.
The DFL had presented a 51-page document to the authorities, which convinced the federal government and the German regions of the possibility of relaunching football behind closed doors.
In an annexed document sent to the clubs, the DFL had specified that the embraces and contacts of hands to celebrate the goals should be avoided and that it was necessary to privilege "Contacts of the elbow or the foot."
© 2020 AFP