VK Bayern Munich vaccination is not mandatory

Bayern Munich say they support vaccination of players to prevent COVID-19, but this is not mandatory.

The Germany international said on Saturday he had not been vaccinated because he was concerned about the long-term effects of the vaccine, but added that he would likely be vaccinated in the future.

This immediately sparked a storm of criticism across Germany, with many arguing that footballers needed to be role models.

The German football federation said on Tuesday that more than 90 percent of players and staff in Germany's two top leagues had been vaccinated.

"It is important that we can only advise everyone to be vaccinated," Bayern CHIEF Oliver Kahn told reporters Monday night. "We have highlighted this through a series of actions."

"At the end of the day, everyone has to respect the different opinions of others."

"Bayern supports vaccination action in a sustainable way," said Bayern President Herbert Heina. "But at the end of the day, we have no obligation to get vaccinated. It's a personal choice. ”

Joshua Kimic said he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Joshua Kimic did say that maybe he would be vaccinated in the future. If that's true, I'll be happy," Heina added.

The 26-year-old also had the support of former Bayern chief executive Carl Heinz Rummenigge, who said the player would ultimately make the "right decision".

Rummenigge said: "If there is a player I know who is very responsible and has been a role model in many things in life, then this person must be Joshua." Rummenigge resigned earlier this year, replacing Kahn.

"In this case, I think he will make the right decision at some point."

Meanwhile, Bayern coach Julian Negelsmann will miss the second round of the German Cup in Borussia Monchenglabach on Wednesday due to failure to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in time.

Negelsmann missed Bayern's last two games after testing positive for the virus last week, but he hopes to be able to make a comeback in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

"I am still in isolation at home and the next test will be carried out on Thursday. Yesterday I had a test and unfortunately I didn't get into Gladbach. He added. I hope things will be different on Thursday.

"I would have liked to get closer, but thanks to modern technology, a lot of things are possible. I'm glad everything went well so far. ”

Without Nagelsmann, Bundesliga champions Germany beat Benfica 4-0 in last week's Champions League and scored four more goals against Hoffenheim on Saturday to maintain their top spot in the league table.

In both games, Nagelsman was replaced by his assistant Dino Topmoller.