Zero spectators for Germany-Switzerland as Köln locks down
Köln managing director can have little cause for complaint this time. Rising corona infection rates in the Cathedral City means that absolutely no fans will be allowed into the RheinEnergieStadion to watch the German national team play against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.
Even a minuscule audience has been deemed unsafe. The latest infection rates reported by the Cologne health department place the seven day running average of new COVID cases as 66.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Such a total exceeds the 35 case average that permits public open-air events to proceed with restrictions in the Bundesrepublik. Additionally, the number places Köln over the 50 person threshold that labels a regional a "hot-spot". Drastic societal lockdowns are in store for the city.
The carnival club were permitted to allow in 300 fans last weekend for their derby fixture against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The same amount of live observers were permitted in to watch Germany's 3-3 draw with Turkey in a friendly five days ago.
This time neither the club, city, or DFB even entertained the notion of spectators. A statement on the DFB website confirms that the FA did not even submit a petition for fans over the weekend.