Jadon Sancho Responds Angrily to Being Fined for Coronavirus Haircut 'Hygiene' Breach

Jadon Sancho has responded to the DFL and their imposed fine on him, after he was found to be violating hygiene protocols.

The 20-year-old was fined by the Deutsche Fußball-Liga (DFL) – or German Football League – on Friday, after the Borussia Dortmund winger was pictured having his hair cut without wearing a mask. It violates one of the league’s health regulations set amid the coronavirus pandemic, earning him a fine of €10,000.

After finding out the news, Sancho took to Twitter to respond to the DFL – swiftly deleting the tweet – simply replying: “Absolute joke DFL!”. He received the hefty fine for not only having a haircut without wearing a protective face mask, but also for having a home hairdresser visit.

Sancho is not the only Dortmund star to receive a fine, with Swiss defender Manuel Akanji also earning a €10,000 fine for the same offence. BILD report that a total of six BVB players made the same violation, all having home haircuts without wearing masks.

Akanji and Sancho are the only players to be fined so far, though the other four players in question – who remain unknown - are likely to receive the same punishment.

The DFL spoke out about their decision, explaining why the pair were fined. As quoted by German channel Sport1, a DFL spokesman said: "There is no question that professional footballers also have to have their hair cut. However, this currently has to be done in accordance with the medical-organisational concept.

“The club had also provided its players with a suitable option in this specific case.”

Dortmund had previously offered to bring the players’ hairdresser to the training ground, so they could have their hair cut in line with regulations. However, both Sancho and Akanji are understood to have turned that offer down, instead opting to have their appointments at home.

An additional DFL statement (quoted by BILD) says: "The Borussia Dortmund players had obviously violated general hygiene and infection protection standards at home hairdressing appointments and in particular the medical-organizational concept of the DFL task force ‘Sports Medicine / Special Game Operations’.

“This can be seen in photos that have been published in classic media and on social media.”

Dortmund are back in action on Saturday, when they host Hertha BSC at the Signal Iduna Park. Lucien Favre’s side are seven points off league leaders Bayern Munich with just five games to play.

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