Positive COVID tests in Heidenheim pressure DFL for another postponement
One week after accepting VfL Onsnabrück's formal application for a match postponement, the DFL will have significantly less time to consider calling off another match involving the Lilacs.
A snowball effect threatens to derail DFL efforts to avoid a significant interruption of the season in Germany's Bundesliga Two. Positive signs that a functional system for the postponement of fixtures in the global-pandemic could be implemented emerged last week.
Second-tier side VfL Osnabrück officially applied to the footballing body directly responsible for both the top flight and second division, the DFL. The organization sanctioned the postponement and rescheduled the match between Osnabrück and SV Darmstadt 98 for this coming Wednesday.
Matters now get more complicated. News broke early today that five positive COVID tests among the ranks of Osnabrück's opponent this weekend, 1. FC Heidenheim, mean that there shall likely not be enough time for the administrative body to consider whether to postpone the match. A decision must be made urgently.
At present, the total number of fixtures in the 2020/21 cycle postponed by COVID stands at two. A third round fixture between Hamburger SV and Erzgebirge Aue had to be postponed without the approval process.
The Osnabrück-Darmstadt match was scheduled to take place in round four. A Heidenheim-Osnabrück deferral would make it three weeks in a row.
The German third division, administered by the DFB, has had three postponements thus far. MSV Duisburg's has had its last two fixtures postponed after a multiple positive tests within the team.
Today it was announced that three positive tests among the ranks of Türkgücü München would force the Friday matchup against FSV Zwickau to be suspended.
As of yet, no matches have been postponed in the top flight.