COVID-19 has caused immense havoc in the entire world, and sports are noexception. Despite the various health protocols, the coronavirus issignificantly present in the world of soccer. It has forced manymatch cancellations andrescheduling, and in some leagues, clubs have no other choice butto play their scheduled games in spite of their depleted squad.
Soccer players train constantly trying to stay fit, they have the best diet any human being could have, they live a healthy life… Nevertheless, not a single person is 100 percentimmune to the virus, and neither are they.Some have already been vaccinated, and some are against it and have been protesting against the vaccines even inthepublic eye.
Over the course of the past twoyears, many players have tested positive and recovered from the infection – some even multiple times. What several of them have in common is that they have shown signs of serious health issues as a result of COVID. This weekend only, as many asthreesoccerplayers have been diagnosed withheart problems after recovering from the coronavirus and testing negative.
Joshua Kimmich
At first, Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich had toisolate in late November after coming into touch with a positive case due to his lack of vaccination.Eventually, he tested positive, but his return on the field was put on holdowing to a lung condition caused by COVID-19.
Kimmich had previously voiced apprehension about being vaccinated owing to fears and reservationsabout the vaccination, but doctors discovered liquid in his lungs, forcing him to sit out until 2022.The 26-year-old was even unable to return to training, as octors advised him to rest for 10 days. The German defender claimedhe was warned that vigorous exercise might cause cardiac difficulties and have long-term consequences.
Alphonso Davies
Bayern had confirmed that left-back Alphonso Davies tested positive for COVID-19 in early January. The Canada internationalhasnot trained with the team since thenbut he was expected to join the rest of the squadin the coming days.
However, the Bavarians’bossJulian Nagelsmann revealed on Friday that the 21-year-old defender has been ruled out indefinitelydue to heart problems. The club established in a statement thatDavies has been diagnosed with a heart problem, i.e. an inflammation of the heart muscle. Thus, the playerwill not train for some time.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Gabon captain andArsenal striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangis among the latestplayers to suffer from heart problems after overcoming theCOVID-19 infection. The 32-year-old stardid not receive permission to play for Gabon at the 2021 African Cup of Nations and was forced to miss the Matchday 2 clashagainst Ghana after being diagnosed with heart problems caused by the virus.
Mario Lemina andAxel Meye
Aubameyang’steammates from thePanthers’ national team, Mario Lemina of Nice, andIttihad Tanger’s Axel Meyewere also notably absent on Friday. An alarming and worrying fact is that they have also been suffering fromcardiac abnormalities.
“According to the CAF medical commission, the players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Axel Meye, and Mario Lemina, who just returned from COVID-19, cannot take part in this match. The examinations showed cardiac lesions. CAF did not want to take any risks,” said theGabonese Football Federation in a statement.
