BORUSSIA DORTMUND president Hans-Joachim Watzke has sparked outrage by suggesting that showing solidarity with other clubs in the coronavirus pandemic shows a lack of competitive spirit.
Calls for togetherness are being made across the world – and football is no different.
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Hans-Joachim Watzke has sparked outrage over his coronavirus commentsCredit: Getty
A number of clubs have thrown rivalry aside to stand together during the crisis – even playing games on social media to pass the time with no live action.
But Watzke doesn’t agree, telling German TV channel ARD: “The context should not be exaggerated.
“The risk of contamination in a professional team made up only of high-level athletes cannot be that bad.
“If we had to show solidarity with other countries, where would the competitive spirit be?”
He added: “I am not really in favour of it, because it would not be normal for clubs that have worked hard to help those who worked badly these last few years.
“We have a commercial business and we all compete. So you have to wonder what the term ‘competition’ means.
“If we had to show solidarity with each other, there would be no more competitive spirit. Should we somehow reward clubs in difficulty for their bad work?”
GERMANY FURIOUS
He has been widely criticised by both fans and the German media.
Other club leaders have also publicly condemned Dortmund chief Watzke for his comments.
Fortuna Dusseldorf chief Thomas Rottgermannsaid: “I don’t know what made him say that.
“I think this shows an absolute lack of solidarity. It was neither the right time nor the right content.”
Rottgermann went on to say he will seek to hold talks with Watzke, adding: “We clubs, we are going to talk about the policy anyway.
“I will have the opportunity to speak to him about it.”
Controversial Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp said big clubs needed to help smaller outfits during this tough time.
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He said: “The time for solidarity is now. The strong help the weak. I hope that this solidarity is the consensus among everyone involved with the Bundesliga.”
Hopp, who is the co-owner of the Tubingen pharmaceutical company CureVac, said the company may be able to deliver a vaccine in the autumn.
The company founder and patron of the Bundesliga football club Hoffenheim said: “If the results are positive, we could start clinical tests around early summer.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
