In the US professional leagues, the corona numbers continue to rise. Many games in the NHL and the NBA have been canceled. English football is also struggling with the new Omikron variant. The question is: what does Germany have to adjust to?
In US sport, there will be new game cancellations before Christmas due to the corona pandemic and the increasing number of athletes who have tested positive in the NHL and NBA. The NHL has postponed 13 more games for the next few days. In the NBA, five games were canceled – three of which were originally scheduled for Sunday. In basketball, 7 games are affected, in ice hockey the number will rise to 40 by the time of the holidays.
The situation in the USA is becoming more and more precarious, also due to the new Omikron variant. What can be deduced from this for German sport?
There have been many positive tests recently in the NHL among players, coaches and team supervisors, but “the number of positive cases that have led to worrying symptoms or serious illness” is low, the best ice hockey league in the world explained to her Sticking to the game. The league wants to avoid cross-border trips between Canada and the USA in the near future, which is why it has canceled all affected games until Christmas.
And in basketball?
According to information from the US news agency AP, at least 75 NBA professionals were not operational on Sunday evening or would not have been if their games had not been canceled. The German national basketball player Moritz Wagner has also been on the NBA’s corona list since Friday. His brother Franz Wagner was one of only nine operational professionals at the Magic on Saturday when the team won against the Nets. The latter, for their part, only had the minimum of eight professionals available because, among others, the superstars James Harden and Kevin Durant are on the Corona list. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings are now also among the NHL teams that have been particularly hard hit and will have to close their training facilities until further notice.
Moritz Wagner: The German basketball player from Orlando Magic is currently still allowed to pursue his sport, his brother is out due to Corona. (Source: Icon SMI / imago images)
But the situation is not only dire in the USA. In England, too, there are now massive problems to maintain gaming operations at all due to the Omikron variant.
The situation in England
After the corona virus led to a number of game cancellations in England over the weekend, the Premier League club bosses are coming together for a crisis meeting this Monday. “Christmas in danger?” Asked the tabloid “Daily Mail” on its website on Sunday in view of the threatening situation across the country. Football is traditionally played in England on December 26th.
But only four out of ten scheduled games for the 18th matchday were played over the weekend. The numerous corona cases at Chelsea FC had an effect. The table third did not get past a 0-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers without seven professionals. The Premier League had previously prevented a possible postponement of the game. “It’s hard to understand. I thought we had a strong argument with the safety and health of the players,” complained German Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel.
Timo Werner (left) and Thomas Tuchel: The German national player is currently missing his Chelsea coach due to a corona illness. (Source: Shutterstock / imago images)
However, it is also clear that the vaccination rate among Premier League professionals is nowhere near as high as in other European leagues. As of last month, 31 percent were not yet protected against the virus. Just for comparison: DFL managing director Christian Seifert recently pointed out in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the vaccination rate for players in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga in Germany is more than 90 percent.
Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp made it clear before the 2-2 on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur that the vaccination would play a role for him in future transfers. “If a player is not vaccinated at all, he is a constant threat to all of us,” said the former Bundesliga coach, according to British media, including the Guardian. “He doesn’t want to be a threat. (…) But he is one.” So it would be very complicated to organize the processes.
Klopp: “Yes, it would definitely have an impact”
The 54-year-old did not confirm any ongoing transfer negotiations, but he had thought about the Corona issue. “And yes, it would definitely have an impact.” Liverpool FC reported three players with positive corona tests last Thursday morning despite a very high vaccination rate.
On Saturday alone, 10,059 new Omicron cases were registered in the UK – three times as many as the day before. Omikron is now the dominant virus variant with around 60 percent of cases in England. Omikron is also already dominant in Scotland. Scientific advisors are calling for the measures to be tightened as quickly as possible in order to prevent the health system from being overloaded. The German federal government has declared Great Britain a virus variant area and thus drastically restricted entry from the country from Monday.
The situation in Germany is currently not as bad as in the USA and England. But the club bosses are also preparing for tough weeks, maybe months, here in the country.
The Mainz sports director Christian Heidel said last weekend about the worsening corona situation: “If everything happens as the worst predictions predict, then it will be difficult. I have to honestly say: It will all be very, very difficult. ” And further: “One thing is certain: the focus is on health.” Football does not want a special role, but only takes place “if we have it under control in the stadiums”.
.
