German doctor very worried about Bundesliga takeover conditions

Despite the draconian health protocol planned for Saturday for the resumption of the Bundesliga, the players could be exposed to “irreversible” lung lesions in the event of infection with the coronavirus, with a risk of performance decline, explains to AFP a doctor renowned sport in Germany.

In a telephone interview, Professor Wilhelm Bloch, of the Cologne Higher School of Sport, worries about the conditions of this return to the field despite the health instructions, judging the protocol of the German League (DFL) "not sure at 100 % ".

Does the Bundesliga health protocol fully protect players?

It is not 100% safe. The protocol minimizes the risks, but there is no 100% protection, and there is always the danger of seeing a player or manager infected with the virus. The risk is difficult to assess. It naturally depends on the environment and the general situation in the country. The players are not in total quarantine, they mix with their families, even if they have received instructions to limit contact. And there are also risks during matches. They will all be tested, but not all coronavirus tests work perfectly, there is a relatively large margin of error.

Is there a risk to the players' careers in the event of infection?

Yes. Generally, the physical constitution, the immune system and the cardiovascular system of high performance athletes makes the risk for them low. But we do not know at the moment if a minor infection or even mild symptoms do not cause damage, such as small scarring of the lungs after inflammation, or the formation of connective tissue, that is to say fibrosis. This damage can be irreversible, or it can last for a long time before the body repairs it. There is a risk for top athletes to lose their performance level, and never find it. We have already had infected players in Europe and we will soon know if they recover their full capacities.

German football will resume, aware of its "heavy responsibility" via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/cByNDI87OC

The recovery after two months will take place without friendlies, with little training. What is the danger?

Obviously, the players are not optimally prepared. Depending on the level of preparation, the risk of injury increases. We can think that the players will be more prone to injuries, and that we will see muscle injuries, but also injuries of the musculoskeletal system, tendons. We can't compare to the start of the season. At the start of the season they normally have a very intensive training period, then a short break so that the body can regenerate, and then they start the season. There, it was not possible for all the teams.

How to give 100% match without apprehension when you live for weeks in a world where you have to avoid contact?

That's the question. I am not a psychologist, it is difficult to assess. But I think it's going to be a difficult transition and it won't necessarily be good for their performance. These factors should also be considered and counted as one of the risk factors for injury.

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