Hoffenheim Confirms Eighth Covid-19 Case

Hoffenheim (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Hoffenheim confirms the eighth COVID-19 case in his squad, adding to the pressure on the club to control the spread of the virus ahead of their next match

As reported by Antara from AFP, Friday, November 13, Hoffenheim had previously quarantined its entire squad on Wednesday, after four positive COVID-19 tests were found. The training program has also been canceled.

Hoffenheim are set to host VfB Stuttgart in their next German League match, on November 21.

Defender Kevin Vogt is the latest player to test positive on Wednesday night's test. On Wednesday morning, tests on Sebastian Rudy, Ishak Belfodil and a staff member came back positive for COVID-19.

Hoffenheim's situation sparked anxiety among other German clubs.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the club must ensure they "improve and adapt to hygiene concepts to ensure every game can be played."

So far no German League match has been canceled due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in participating clubs.

Under German Football League (DFL) regulations, clubs must have at least 15 healthy players.

Werder Bremen right-back Clemens Fritz called the new cases in Hoffenheim "tragic" and warned how bad the situation was for everyone.

The problem is even more complicated because a number of players are currently joining their respective national teams due to the international break.

"Hoffenheim is in close communication with the players who are currently with their national team, as well as with the health authorities," said sporting director Alexander Rosen.

On Tuesday Hoffenheim confirmed that Robert Skov and Munas Dabbur were infected with COVID-19 while strengthening their respective national teams.

This made goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and defender Ryan Sessegnon sent home from the senior national team and the German Under-21s, despite their negative test results.

During the international break last October, Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric and Ghanaian defender Kasim Adams returned from their respective national teams with COVID-19.

Hoffenheim's Czech right-back Pavel Kaderabek is in quarantine after a positive case in his family, but the three players above have returned to training.

Hoffenheim stunned them in a 4-1 win over European champions Bayern Munich in September, but after that they only managed to take four points from seven matches.