The BVB women's handball team will not take part in their EHF Champions League play-off matches against Metz Handball. This decision was taken due to the uncertainty surrounding a corona case in the opposition camp.

The Black & Yellows were set to duke it out with the French outfit for a place in the quarter-finals. The two legs, which were due to be played on Friday and Sunday, had been moved to Nancy after the French Département of Moselle, in which Metz is located, was categorised as a coronavirus risk area. 

Following several positive corona cases in the camp, the Metz team were in quarantine until midway through last week and were only allowed to leave again once all the players had tested negative. But at the beginning of this week, another Metz played tested positive for the coronavirus. According to a club statement, however, the player in question did not have any contact with her team-mates after quarantine had ended last week.

Another corona cases in the Metz team. The uncertainty surrounding whether the player in question had in fact infected one of her team-mates. The fact that the Black & Yellows will be dispersed across Europe next week for the international break. These were all reasons which ultimately led to the decision not to appear in the play-off matches.

"Health and safety take precedence"

"Under the current circumstances, it would be irresponsible to travel to Nancy and the stage the matches. The health and safety of the players and staff simply take precedence here," explained BVB board member Andreas Heiermann. It is an opinion that is shared by the team and coaching staff.

Borussia Dortmund had discussed possible solutions with Metz and the EHF over the past few days. The alternative idea of playing a one-legged tie on Sunday and having the Metz team tested daily for the virus until then was mooted. However, the EHF informed BVB on Thursday evening that following internal discussions, there was no reason for the federation not to let the matches take place as planned.

BVB does not share this point of view and will not travel to the play-off matches to ensure the players are protected. As of Thursday evening, the EHF had not made an official announcement as to which team would go through to the quarter-finals in light of the circumstances.