We cannot force footballers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 – Thomas Tuchel
The subject of unvaccinated players in the Premier League has sparked controversy following a new COVID-19 wave that has hit the United Kingdom, and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel expressed his opinion on whether vaccination should be obligatory for professional footballers.
Tuchel stressed that he is not willing to force any unvaccinated player to receive the jab, but acknowledged that the Premier League may have to impose some regulations for those who decide against getting the vaccine.
“You know that it’s causing an issue,” Tuchel said ahead of the Blues’ Carabao Cup tie against Brentford.
“But it’s not that we have all unvaccinated infected. We have vaccinated players who are positive. I don’t want to get involved in pointing fingers and starting the hunt for nonvaccinated people. This is a choice to make.
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“There can be regulations around this. You have to live with the consequences. But we cannot force people to get vaccinated.
“I will not change my opinion on that. And I am not the guy to comment on that. There are experts in this country, all over Europe. Ask them and ask me please about football.”
As many as seven Chelsea players will miss out on the Blues’ Carabao Cup clash against Brentford on Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, N’Golo Kante is expected to be rested, while Andreas Christensen and Trevoh Chalobah are major doubts, with Jorginho being at Tuchel’s disposal after testing negative following a positive result that he returned before the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Sunday.
