COVID-19 Quarantine Forces Postponement of Three Hertha Berlin Games

The German football league (DFL) has postponed three Hertha Berlin games in the Bundesliga, as the Berlin side must complete a 14-day quarantine following Coronavirus infections among their ranks.

The matches, originally at Mainz on Sunday, against Fraiburg on April 21 and Schalke on April 24,  won’t take place as planned.

New dates “are expected to be announced in the coming week,’’ the DFL said.

“Of course we will think about how to reschedule these games. It’s a challenge for the fixture list, that’s clear.

“But it’s also clear that something like this can happen during this time. We will face this situation and think about how to approach the schedule,’’ DFL Managing Director Christian Seifert said on Friday.

Hertha were forced into quarantine after a total of four officials and players tested positive for the Coronavirus on Thursday.

All players and coaches were ordered to quarantine until April 29.

Initially, only coach Pal Dardai, assistant Admir Hamzagic and striker Dodi Lukebakio, as well as a first-degree contact, assistant coach Andreas Neuendorf, had been sent to quarantine. All other players were to go to a hotel for team isolation.

However, due to the positive test result of defender Marvin Plattenhardt, which was confirmed after the team’s training, the quarantine was extended to the entire squad and coaching staff.

Hertha sporting director Arne Friedrich told a news conference on Friday that coach Dardai has mild symptoms, “but no fever,’’ while Hamzagic has a slight fever.

In the event of further positive Coronavirus cases at Hertha during the team’s quarantine period, the clock would automatically be reset on a 14-day isolation period.

Detlef Wagner, district councillor for social affairs and health of the responsible district office, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in Berlin, confirmed this regulation to dpa on Friday.

“Of course, the same rules apply to Hertha as to schools and hospitals,’’ Wagner said.

An extension of the quarantine could further endanger the tight schedule set through the last Bundesliga matchday, on May 22.

However, Hertha Managing Director Carsten Schmidt contradicted what the Berlin authorities said.

“We have just clarified this with the health authorities,’’ he told a news conference later on Friday, saying in event of new cases, only the affected people would need an extension of the isolation period.

According to dpa information, the DFL is again discussing possible mandatory team quarantine for all clubs, at least for the last two match days in May.

Hertha sit 15th in the Bundesliga table, tied on 26 points with Arminia Bielefeld, the first team in the drop zone.