Bayern Munich have gone ahead and reduced the wages of the players that did not get vaccinated, but have caught COVID. Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michael Cuisance are the five that are included in this list.
According to German news outlet BILD, the Bavarian club told their players that they would not be paid if they missed work due to the virus and didn’t take the vaccine.
Bayern succumbed to a shock 2-1 defeat against Augsburg this past weekend. Joshua Kimmich was unavailable for the game due to the infection. Serge Gnabry, Musical and Choupo-Moting all played in the game.
Michael Cuisance has now joined the four players, and they will all have to quarantine for the upcoming days.
Germany is one of the worst-hit countries by the pandemic in Europe right now. Their vaccination percentage is at 68, the lowest of any country in Western Europe. The strict decision to withhold pay against unvaccinated players is an attempt to ensure that more people take the shot in Germany.
‘I have concerns about the lack of long-term studies,’ Joshua Kimmich said. ‘I am of course aware of my responsibility. I follow all hygiene measures and get tested every two to three days. Everyone should make the decision for themselves.’
Football games in the second and third tier of Germany have been cancelled due to the outbreak. While Bundesliga games are yet to suffer the same feat, the government had placed limitations on the number of people that can attend each game.
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