Sancho, Akanji fined for defying virus controls for haircuts

The German soccer league said Sancho and Akanji “apparently violated general hygiene and infection protection standards” to have a barber visit them at home.

Jadon Sancho in action.

Borussia Dortmund players Jadon Sancho and Manuel Akanji were fined by the German soccer league on Friday for defying coronavirus control measures to get haircuts.

The league said Sancho and Akanji “apparently violated general hygiene and infection protection standards” to have a barber visit them at home, as seen in photos published on social media. There were no facemasks visible in the photos.

There were similar photos of Dortmund teammates Dan-Axel Zagadou and Raphŗel Guerreiro with Dusseldorf-based barber Winnie Nana Karkari, but they were not mentioned in the league’s statement. The Bild tabloid reported that Karkari also visited Axel Witsel and Thorgan Hazard last Thursday.

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"It goes without question that professional soccer players also need their hair cut. However, this must be done in accordance with the medical-organizational concept at the moment,” the league said in its statement.

It did not give the value of the fines. Sancho and Akanji have five days to appeal.

-"ABSOLUTE JOKE"-

In response to the the ban, Sancho expressed his displeasure over the decision through a post on Twitter. His tweet read "Absolute Joke DFL".

Absolute Joke DFL! ♂

— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) June 5, 2020

Sancho, very recently, escaped a punishment for showing his support towards the 'Black Lives Matter' movement during Dortmund's previous match.

The German football federation (DFB) decided on Wednesday it would not fine Sancho for lifting his Dortmund shirt to reveal a t-shirt bearing the message “Justice For George Floyd” during the win against Paderborn last weekend.

The death of Floyd, a black American, as a white policemen kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis has sparked days of protests in cities across the United States and in other countries.

The Bundesliga became the first of the major European football leagues to resume on May 17, following the coronavirus shutdown. Players and coaches must follow strict health guidelines, including regular testing and only remaining with family members or teammates in between matches.