BUNDESLIGA stars believe that league officials are prioritising money over health and are scared to return to action, according to Neven Subotic.
The former Borussia Dortmund hero, now of Union Berlin, is deeply sceptical ahead of the German top-flight’s May 16 return.
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Subotic is well-known for his successful time at Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty – Contributor
Ten first-team stars from Germany’s top two-divisions have tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the restart next week, including three players from Subotic’s former club FC Koln.
But their return to action is still set to go ahead, after being given the green light by Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.
Subotic, however, is not best pleased.
He told the BBC: “[Becoming ill is] definitely the big issue that everyone carries with them. It’s a precarious situation for all of us where it’s going to be impossible to come out of the league with positive remarks.
We want to press fast forward and be in a situation where we don’t have to worry about it but I think that’s unrealistic within the coming months.
Neven Subotic
“There’s going to be a lot of risk management and trying to get to a finished season with the fewest casualties, so to speak. I am critical of how everything is being managed but we understand it’s a difficult situation for everyone.
“We were one of the last to close down the league and then the approach has been to come back to the league as soon as possible and the financial aspects were always being highlighted.
“Some of the owners or managers had some remarks that were fairly [unfortunate] in terms of what this crisis means for them or their club and equated them to more of a business.
“We have postponed the start of the league I don’t know how many times.
“We want to press fast forward and be in a situation where we don’t have to worry about it but I think that’s unrealistic within the coming months.
“In the last six weeks we’ve always been hearing ‘it’s going to start soon’. Now it’s actually going to start soon but also for a player it was fairly frustrating because what we want is clarity.”
Matches will all take place behind closed doors for the foreseeable future, and the 31-year-old isn’t particularly excited to take to the pitch again, while health concerns linger and fans continue to be unable to attend.
He continued: “I don’t think so because we’re not going to have games with fans. That’s what makes it special, having a collective moment of celebration.
Subotic believes that the most important aspect of football is that of communityCredit: Getty – Contributor
“Playing football is fun and challenging but what makes it exceptional is the community aspect of it. That’s gone and it’s a huge thing.
“What I will definitely enjoy is the first game back with fans in the stadium. I’m looking forward to it and I don’t know when it will happen but that’s the motivation I have.”
Union are set to kick-start their campaign against Bayern Munich next Sunday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
