Controversy in Germany .. The reason is the Bayern star who refuses to receive the vaccine
Joshua Kimmich will be under the microscope during his team Bayern Munich's match with its host Borussia Monchengladbach tomorrow in the second round of the German Cup in football, amid intense controversy in the country since the midfielder revealed that he does not want to receive a vaccine against the Corona virus.
Kimmich admitted last Saturday that he had decided not to receive the vaccine, even though he founded the "Finnerkle Corona" association last year, which sparked comments from the German government.
"I am not one of those who deny the existence of the coronavirus or that I am anti-vaccine," Kimmich said, adding that his decision was based on "personal concerns."
This led to comments from Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Stephen Seibert, who hopes the player will educate himself and "absorb and accept all available information about vaccines approved in the European Union."
Seibert urged Kimmich to get vaccinated because the Bayern star is "someone to be looked at by millions" as a role model.
However, Kimmich is among the minority of players in the Bundesliga who refuse to receive the vaccine.
Christian Seifert, general manager of the German Football League, revealed that 94% of first-class players are vaccinated.
In Germany, with a population of 83 million, about 66 percent have been fully vaccinated, but the country with the largest economy in Europe is currently facing a fourth wave of infections, after ten thousand new infections were recorded on Tuesday.
Since he tested positive for COVID-19 last week, Bavarian giants coach Julian Nagelsmann has been giving instructions for training and matches from home as he is in quarantine.
Kimmich says he may receive the vaccine in the future, and his teammate and teammate Thomas Muller hopes that it will happen sooner rather than later.
Bayern Munich president Herbert Heinz confirmed Monday that he would be happy if "Kimich receives the vaccine, but there is no compulsory vaccination. One has to respect the decision of others".
The player was subject to a lot of criticism from medical experts.
"Joshua Kimmich is certainly an expert in football matters, but he is not an expert in matters of vaccination," Thomas Mertens, head of the German Immunization Committee (Stico), told the media.
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