Berlin (AFP)

Two Borussia Dortmund players, Jadon Sancho and Manuel Akanji, were fined on Friday by the German Football Federation (DFL) for having their hair cut at home without respecting health rules.

Before the meeting against Paderborn last weekend (6-1 victory, including three Sancho goals in 33 minutes), the Englishman and the Swiss had been photographed by a renowned hairdresser, who came expressly from Düsseldorf (located at 70 km from Dortmund). The latter had published the photo on Instagram.

Problem: neither the hairdresser nor the two players wore masks, thus violating the very strict regulations of the federation, which had authorized the resumption of the Bundesliga in mid-May provided in particular that the players do not receive anyone at their home.

"The players (...) obviously violated the general rules of hygiene and protection against infections as well as the medico-organizational concept" of the federation, announced the DFL Friday.

"It's a big joke," immediately reacted Sancho, 20, on his official Twitter account, followed by more than 330,000 fans, directly calling on the German Federation.

The club said Thursday that the players said they only removed their mask for the photo. The hairdresser also allegedly wore a plastic face shield while cutting their hair, according to the club.

"There is no doubt that even professional footballers must have their hair cut. However, this must currently be done in accordance" with the sanitary rules, said the DFL which did not specify the amount of the fine.

Four other professionals from Dortmund also allegedly used the services of the hairdresser, including the Belgians Axel Witsel and Thorgan Hazard. However, no photos have so far been published.

The German Federation (DFB) had been more lenient Wednesday by deciding not to sanction Sancho for having shown, after a goal, a T-shirt with the words "Justice For George Floyd", the American black killed by a police officer the week end last in Minneapolis.

In England, Ivorian side defender Tottenham Serge Aurier had also sparked controversy by posting on Instagram on May 19 a photo showing him alongside his hairdresser.

His club had immediately announced that they were investigating the circumstances of this incident, without however communicating on a possible sanction. According to the British press, the player would have been fined 140,000 pounds (156,000 euros).

© 2020 AFP