Borussia Dortmund players avoid showers after Legionella concerns in Baku

Borussia Dortmund’s players left Baku Olympic Stadium without showering after Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Azerbaijan champions FK Sabah, amid concerns about possible Legionella bacteria in the stadium’s water system.

The victory was Dortmund’s second in this season’s Champions League, but the German side’s decision to leave with their players still covered in sweat attracted more attention after the match. Their refusal to use the stadium’s shower facilities surprised their opponents.

Dortmund manager Niko Kovac said the team had also avoided showering after training the previous day.

“We did not shower after training yesterday either, and we will now head quickly to the hotel,” Kovac said. “We were told that we should not shower here.”

According to German magazine Der Spiegel, it was initially unclear who had issued the instruction or why it had been given.

Dortmund sporting director Ole Bock offered a deliberately vague explanation when questioned in the mixed zone.

“I think the showers at the hotel were slightly more attractive, which is why we want to get the players there quickly,” he said.

Bock declined to explain further when asked about the condition of the stadium’s shower rooms, saying: “You can imagine the situation to some extent.” He added that they were “not exactly elegant”.

Der Spiegel, citing German newspaper Bild, reported that Dortmund had not wanted to risk the health of their players. The newspaper said concerns over the possible presence of Legionella bacteria in the water were believed to be behind the decision to leave without showering.

There have been no other media reports about the matter, and neither club has confirmed the reason for the players’ decision.

Legionella bacteria can live in pipes where water does not flow regularly, according to Der Spiegel. During a shower, the bacteria can enter the respiratory system through tiny droplets released into the air and cause illness.

German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported that Legionella bacteria in drinking water can cause illnesses with symptoms resembling flu, as well as severe pneumonia. It can also lead to Legionnaires’ disease, a respiratory condition whose complications can sometimes prove fatal.

The reported concerns relate only to the use of the stadium’s showers, with no further details provided about the water facilities or any wider health risk.