After the home game of FSV Mainz 05 against Borussia Dortmund, the game at FC Augsburg planned for this Saturday is also about to be cancelled.
As the Rheinhessen announced, they have submitted an application to the German Football League (DFL) for a transfer.
The reason: "Mainz 05 does not have the necessary number of operational and eligible players available for this game." According to the DFL rules of the game, at least 16 eligible players must be available, which can also be amateurs and contract players.
This calculation also includes bans and short-term injuries.
However, at least nine of those available must have a license player contract – including a goalkeeper.
Going into a game without a keeper with pro status is not allowed.
It was precisely at this point that the Dortmund game failed: Robin Zentner, Finn Dahmen, who was also pausing due to a torn ligament, and Lasse Rieß, all three goalkeepers in Bo Svensson's squad, were among the players infected with Covid-19.
Some of the patients were and are completely or largely symptom-free, but the goalkeeper trio apparently got it a little harder.
Irrespective of whether they would possibly test negative again on Saturday, it would not be possible to use them without endangering their health, confirmed sports director Christian Heidel when asked by the FAZ. At the DFL, enthusiasm about the renewed application from Mainz should be limited, After all, the association wants to keep to its schedule.
But there are still ways to catch up on games relatively stress-free, since the league no longer provides for regular English weeks until the end of the season.