BERLIN: Joshua Kimmich will be under the spotlight for Bayern Munich at rivals Moenchengladbach on Wednesday amid a fiery debate in Germany since the footballer revealed he opted not to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
The 26-year-old is set to play for Bayern in a German Cup second-round tie, but off the pitch, his decision not to get vaccinated has even drawn comment from the government in Berlin.
On Saturday, Kimmich revealed he decided against being vaccinated, despite having founded the ‘We Kick Corona” charity last year.
“It’s not that I’m a denier of the coronavirus or an opponent of vaccination,” said Kimmich, who based his decision on “personal concerns.”
The footballer’s stance drew comment from Caretaker Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, who hopes the footballer will inform himself and “let all available information about the vaccines approved in the EU sink in.”
Siebert urged Kimmich to get vaccinated because the Bayern star is “someone who is looked up to by millions” as a role model.
Kimmich appears to be in the minority among Germany’s top flight footballers.
Christian Seifert, managing director of the German Football League (DFL), has said around 94 percent of Bundesliga players are vaccinated.
Of Germany’s population of 83 million, around 66 percent are fully vaccinated, but Europe’s biggest economy is currently in the fourth wave with 10,000 new cases of the coronavirus reported Tuesday.
Since testing positive for Covid-19 last week, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann has been giving training and matchday instructions from home where he is quarantined.
Kimmich says he may get vaccinated in the future and team-mate Thomas Mueller hopes it will be sooner rather than later.
“As a friend, it’s an absolutely acceptable decision,” said Mueller.
“As a teammate, and if you also look a little at what might be better for everyone... my opinion is perhaps that the vaccination would be better.”
On Monday, Bayern president Herbert Hainer said he would be happy if Kimmich “still gets vaccinated, but there is no compulsory vaccination. One has to respect the decision.”
Kimmich has drawn plenty of criticism from medical experts.
“Joshua Kimmich is certainly a proven expert in matters of football, but not an expert in matters of vaccination and vaccines,” Thomas Mertens, chairman of Germany’s Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), told German media.
“It is the personal decision of Kimmich and it should have stayed that way.”
There is also some support.
In a statement, Carsten Ramelow, vice president of the footballers’ union VDV, said it must be “accepted if individual players have concerns about side effects of the vaccination and therefore hold a different opinion.”
The chair of the German Ethics Council also stressed the importance of respecting Kimmich’s “private decision.”
However, the council’s chairwoman Alena Buyx told Sky “I think it’s a pity. It would be great if he would have used his platform to get better advice in order to be a role model.”
Buyx is concerned skeptics could use his statements to “cast doubt over vaccinations.”
Bayern star Kimmich sparks vaccination debate in Germany
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Bayern star Kimmich sparks vaccination debate in Germany
- On Saturday, Kimmich revealed he decided against being vaccinated, despite having founded the 'We Kick Corona" charity last year
- Bayern president Herbert Hainer said he would be happy if Kimmich "still gets vaccinated, but there is no compulsory vaccination.
Verstappen wins fourth consecutive Formula One world title
- The 27-year-old Dutchman came home in fifth place in a race won by George Russell of Mercedes
The 27-year-old Dutchman came home in fifth place in a race won by George Russell of Mercedes as he became just the sixth man after Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost to claim four championships.
Giannis, Lillard lead Bucks over Hornets as Spurs beat Warriors
- Despite a career-high 50-point performance by Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, the host Bucks improved to 8-9 on the season with a 4-0 home streak
- At Chicago, Scotty Pippen Jr. — the son of former Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen — scored 30 points and added 10 assists to lead Memphis over the Bulls 142-131
LOS ANGELES: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and Damian Lillard added 31 to lead the Milwaukee Bucks over visiting Charlotte 125-119 on Saturday, stretching their NBA win streak to four games.
Despite a career-high 50-point performance by Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, the host Bucks improved to 8-9 on the season with a 4-0 home streak while Charlotte fell to 6-10.
“It just feels great to get another win on our home floor,” Lillard said.
“The way we started the season was rough. We’re starting to play the kind of basketball we wanted to play coming into the season. Now we’re starting to feel good about ourselves, on offense and defense.
“We’re starting to do what the coaches want us to do and we’re starting to get the results we want.”
Greek star Antetokounmpo went 12-of-23 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free throw line while adding 11 rebounds and six assists for Milwaukee. Ball had 10 assists for the Hornets.
Brandon Miller, who had 32 points and 11 rebounds, sank a 3-point shot with 15 seconds remaining to lift Charlotte within 121-119 but Taurean Prince sank two free throws for the Bucks. Ball and Miller missed late 3-point attempts and Antetokounmpo added two final free throws to seal the victory.
Lillard said the players had to find a deeper bond to escape an early season funk.
“Just having to figure it out,” said Lillard. “Nobody is going to come save us. Nobody is going to feel bad for us having a hard time.
“We had to come closer, come together in practice, we’re talking through things in film, talking good things on the court, getting shots up together. Our group chat has been extremely active trying to encourage each other. It’s just coming together on the court.”
French star Victor Wembanyama had 25 points, seven rebounds and nine assists to spark the San Antonio Spurs over Western Conference leader Golden State 104-94.
The host Spurs also had 22 points from Harrison Barnes, 19 by Stephon Castle plus nine points and seven assists from Chris Paul, who played for Golden State last season.
San Antonio outscored the Warriors 33-13 in the final quarter to rally for the victory, improving to 9-8 while Golden State tumbled to 12-4, the same record as Oklahoma City.
The Warriors, who shot only 36.9 percent from the floor, were led by 20 points from Andrew Wiggins and 14 from Stephen Curry.
Finland’s Lauri Markkanen scored 34 points to lead the Utah Jazz over visiting New York 121-106, snapping the Knicks’ four-game win streak and a four-game Utah losing skid.
Markkanen hit 11-of-15 shots from the floor, 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 free throws for the Jazz, who also had 25 points from Collin Sexton.
O.G. Anunoby led New York with 27 points while Jalen Brunson added 23 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
At Chicago, Scotty Pippen Jr. — the son of former Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen — scored 30 points and added 10 assists to lead Memphis over the Bulls 142-131.
Pippen topped eight double-figure scorers for the Grizzlies while Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 29 points.
Germany’s Franz Wagner had 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead Orlando over Detroit 111-100, the Magic improving to 8-0 at home.
At Houston, Portland’s Anfernee Simons scored 25 points, Shaedon Sharpe added 24 and Donovan Clingan grabbed 19 rebounds to spark the Trail Blazers over the host Rockets 104-98.
Simons sank a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to give the Blazers a 99-96 lead and late free throws by Deni Avdija, Simons and Sharpe clinched the triumph.
Jeeno Thitikul makes late charge to catch Angel Yin in the LPGA finale
- At stake is the richest payoff in women’s golf, $4 million to the winner
- Thitikul already picked up a $1 million bonus this week through the Aon Risk-Reward Challenge
NAPLES: Angel Yin was making putts from across the green and threatening to build a big lead until Jeeno Thitikul finished eagle-birdie for a 9-under 63 to share the lead Saturday going into the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship with $4 million on the line.
Yin had a 69 after another day of big putts and one chip-in from some 60 feet for eagle on the par-5 sixth hole that put her comfortably ahead at Tiburon Golf Club.
She holed a 30-footer on the eighth hole, another birdie from about 25 feet on the ninth hole and another one from the 30-foot range on the 12th.
Thitikul seemed to be an afterthought until she lit it up on the back nine for a 30. The Thai started the back nine with three straight bogeys, but she made up quick ground at the end with her eagle on the reachable par-5 17th and a birdie on the closing hole.
The birdie briefly gave her the lead until Yin made birdie on the 17th to join her. They were tied at 15-under 201, three shots head of Ruoning Yin, who birdied her last two for a 66.
Charley Hull had seven birdies in her round of 66 and was at 11-under 205, along with Narin An of South Korea.
Nelly Korda, who got back into the mix on Friday after a sluggish start, lost ground with a 69 on a pleasant day that left her six shots back going into the final round. Korda has won four of her seven LPGA titles this year coming from behind. This could be a tall order.
At stake is the richest payoff in women’s golf, $4 million to the winner, nearly as much as Korda has made all year in her seven-victory season.
Thitikul already picked up a $1 million bonus this week through the Aon Risk-Reward Challenge, a competition based on how players score on a designated hole each week. Now she could leave Florida with a total of $5 million.
“Actually, $1 million is really good enough for me,” Thitikul said. “If I can get more, it’s definitely going to be nice, because as my team know I spend a lot of money. That’s why I have to keep playing good golf, like spending on shopping day.”
Angel Yin heard plenty of cheers for her long birdie putts, and the chip-in for eagle. She also was helped by a couple of pars after bad drives. She went well to the left at No. 10, did well to blast out on a blind shot just short of the green and then got up-and-down with a pitch to 4 feet.
And then on the 13th, another tee shot went well to the left. She tried to get it back in play from just in front of some bushes, and from 50 yards hit wedge to about 15 feet. She holed that putt, too, that kept her in front.
“I’m scoring still,” Yin said. “Making some mistakes, but saving a bunch, so a lot of positives.”
Retegui fires Atalanta to top of Serie A ahead of Inter Milan
- Retegui claimed his 12th league goal of the campaign after just four minutes for the visitors before Ederson and Ademola Lookman scored to send Atalanta above Inter
- Juventus failed to impress in a goalless stalemate with AC Milan
VERONA, Italy: Serie A’s leading scorer Mateo Retegui netted as Atalanta beat Parma 3-1 on Saturday to go top of Serie A on goal difference, overtaking Inter Milan despite the reigning champions’ rout of Verona.
Retegui claimed his 12th league goal of the campaign after just four minutes for the visitors before Ederson and Ademola Lookman scored to send Atalanta above Inter, who hammered Verona 5-0 earlier.
Napoli drop to third before they host Roma on Sunday on Claudio Ranieri’s return to top-flight management.
Juventus, meanwhile, failed to impress in a goalless stalemate with AC Milan and are sixth, one place above their opponents.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his team were developing a winning mentality.
“We have to focus on winning every game we can and the rest is not really in our minds,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“That was the case in the Europa League too, we didn’t start out thinking we’d win it, but as time wore on and we found ourselves in that position, we weren’t going to hold back either.”
Argentina-born Italy striker Retegui, 25, opened the scoring early on with a deft header.
The reigning Europa League champions doubled their lead after 39 minutes as Brazil midfielder Ederson scored his second goal of the season.
But five minutes into the second half, the hosts cut the deficit as Matteo Cancellieri fired home.
Retegui was replaced by attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere as Gasperini rested the attacker before Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Swiss side Young Boys.
Parma’s hopes of denying Atalanta a seventh straight league win were dashed with a quarter of an hour to play as Nigerian international Lookman finally scored, netting for a seventh time this campaign to ensure his side take top spot in the table.
Earlier, Marcus Thuram scored twice in Inter’s easy win over Verona as Joaquin Correa, Stefan de Vrij and Yann Bisseck were also on the scoresheet.
Correa’s opener in the 17th minute, a delightful dink after smart interplay with Thuram, didn’t just spark a rout, it was also the Argentine’s first Serie A goal in more than two years.
Out-of-favor Correa had only played 38 minutes this season before this weekend but was excellent in place of captain and star striker Lautaro Martinez who was sent home early on Saturday with the flu.
“I know him well, he’s been training brilliantly since July, he’s got a lot of competition,” Simone Inzaghi told DAZN.
“I’m pleased for him but I’m also pleased for the boys because they played really well,” he added.
Verona have lost nine of their 13 league matches this season and sit 14th, just three points above the relegation zone.
Inter now host Leipzig on Tuesday as they push for direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, having thumped Verona with a clutch of starters either injured or rested.
As well as Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco and Benjamin Pavard missed Saturday’s match after a busy period on international duty.
Juventus trail Inter and Atalanta by three points after offering little to shout about against AC Milan at the San Siro.
Ravaged by injuries, including to starting center forward Dusan Vlahovic, coach Thiago Motta was forced into an experimental line-up featuring midfielder Teun Koopmeiners up front.
“I’m pleased with our performance, especially defensively against a team which created very little,” Motta told DAZN.
“All in all we played well, I think a point right now keeps us going. I’m happy to see that we’re well-organized and are capable of playing like a big team should.”
10-man Barcelona concede two late goals in draw at Celta Vigo
- Celta poured forward at Balaidos Stadium and Hugo Alvarez rifled in the 86th-minute equalizer with Barcelona unable to mark the extra man
- Antoine Griezmann converted a late penalty to equalize and Alexander Sorloth struck an 86th-minute winner to give Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win at home over Alaves
BARCELONA: Celta Vigo gave 10-man Barcelona a shock by scoring two late goals and snatching a 2-2 draw at home in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Barcelona were minutes away from a win to pad their league lead after Raphinha and Lewandowski had put Barcelona ahead.
But the game dramatically swung after Barcelona defensive midfielder Marc Casado was sent off with a second booking in the 81st. Moments later Jules Kounde’s poor control of a ball in his area allowed Alfon Gonzalez to pick his pocket and give the hosts hope in the 84th minute.
Celta poured forward at Balaidos Stadium and Hugo Alvarez rifled in the 86th-minute equalizer with Barcelona unable to mark the extra man.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, however, said that he saw it coming since his team had never been able to establish their passing game and was making mistakes even when up 2-0.
“It was not only the 10 last minutes, it was the whole match. We played today a really bad game,” Flick said. “The passing game for us was bad. We made a lot of mistakes and at the end we had no confidence with the ball.”
This was Barcelona’s second straight stumble since Lamine Yamal was sidelined with a right-ankle injury. Barcelona lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad without Yamal before the international break.
Barcelona is seven points ahead of third-place Real Madrid, which has played two fewer games.
Koundé accepted the blame for what he called his “gross mistake” that helped give Celta hope.
“We didn’t do what we needed to all game, and at the end they made us pay,” Koundé said. “It starts with me. I can’t lose my focus like that. It was a gross mistake that can’t happen. I accept that it was my fault.”
The late rally by Celta came after Raphinha had led Barcelona as he filled in for Yamal on the right side of the front three.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 15th when he ran onto a long pass by Kounde that bounced over left back Óscar Mingueza, cut back to his left foot and fired home.
Lewandowski doubled the lead in the 61st after Raphinha intercepted a pass by Minqueza and set up his strike partner. The Poland striker scrambled the ball past two defenders before slotting beyond Vicente Guaita.
Lewandowski took his league-leading tally to 15 goals in 14 rounds, while Raphinha has added eight league goals.
Raphinha came close to a second goal that would have made it 3-0 when he hit the post in the 77th, just moments before the wild final stretch when it all crumbled for the visitors.
“We have to learn from this. This can’t happen just because we had a player sent off. But onto the next game,” said Gavi Paez, who started his first match since returning from a serious leg injury last season.
Atletico move into second place
Antoine Griezmann converted a late penalty to equalize and Alexander Sorloth struck an 86th-minute winner to give Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win at home over Alaves.
The comeback victory lifted Atletico into second place — five points behind Barcelona.
Coach Diego Simeone showed his sensitive side after the match when he choked up when speaking about this love for the team he has coached for nearly 13 years.
Valencia honor flood victims
Valencia played their first home game since last month’s devastating floods that killed over 200 people in eastern Spain.
The club honored the victims before kickoff when several fans were seen to cry during the ceremony.
Hugo Duro led the 4-2 win over Real Betis by scoring a double.
Elsewhere, Girona routed Espanyol 4-1 in a Catalan regional derby with Bojan Miovski’s first two goals since joining the club.
Mallorca forward Johan Mojica scored off a set piece from a free kick inside Las Palmas’ area to complete a 3-2 win for the visitors in injury time.
