This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On May 5, 2020, the German Football League (DFL) condemned former Chelsea attacker Salomon Kalou for violating coronavirus social distancing rules.
Kalou, a 34-year-old Ivory Coast international, posted a video on Facebook showing him greeting Hertha players and club employees with handshakes, despite the German league's stringent hygiene measures.
"The pictures of Salomon Kalou from the Hertha dressing room are absolutely unacceptable," the DFL said in a statement.
Hertha Berlin responded by suspending Kalou with immediate effect.
Kalou, who won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2010, apologized for his actions and expressed concern for people in Africa, where medical care is not as good as in Germany.
"I am sorry if my behaviour has given the impression that I do not take Corona seriously. I would like to apologise for this," he said.
"The opposite is true, because I am particularly concerned about the people in Africa, because the medical care there is by far not as good as in Germany. I did not really think about it," Kalou added.
