This archive report was first published on 21 June 2020.
On June 21, 2020, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his disappointment with the UK government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the stark contrast in mask-wearing policies between the UK and Germany.
As the Reds are on the cusp of securing their first league title in 30 years, Klopp was asked about the government's handling of the crisis. Instead of dismissing the question, he launched into a scathing critique.
“I am a sportsperson and I don’t want to say what I really think about the situation because it would open a Pandora’s box. But…
“I didn’t vote for this Government – that’s my excuse,” said Klopp. “This Government was the choice of other people.
He noted that if aliens were to observe the situation in the UK and Germany, they would think they came from two different planets.
One of the key issues Klopp highlighted was the delay in introducing face mask policies in the UK. He pointed out that countries like Germany started wearing face masks in closed areas five or six weeks before the UK, and as a result, they had better and smaller casualty numbers.
“You can argue about whether it makes sense to wear them, but all countries who started wearing face masks earlier have better and smaller casualty numbers than here in England. That’s the truth,” Klopp said.
He also drew a comparison between the two countries' approaches to mask-wearing in public places. In Germany, face masks are mandatory in shops and other enclosed areas, while in the UK, they are only recommended.
“When I go to the petrol station here in England I am the only one wearing a face mask, and I’m the only one with gloves – and I feel like an alien,” Klopp said.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Klopp emphasized that the Liverpool FC team is safe, with regular testing and a strict adherence to health protocols.
However, when he steps outside the club's bubble, he is struck by the stark contrast between the UK and Germany's approaches to the pandemic.
“In Germany, my family is there, I know that they live the kind of normal life that we cannot imagine here. Restaurants are working as normal. You go in, you sit at your table with your family and friends, but you wear a face mask. You still have a wonderful night,” Klopp said.
He concluded that the situation in the UK is not perfect, but it is far from the normalcy experienced in Germany.
