Jadon Sancho has hit out at the German league on social media after being fined for breaking lockdown regulations and getting a haircut in his home.
The Borussia Dortmund winger and teammate Manuel Akanji were handed fines after both players were pictured getting haircuts without personal protective equipments in their respective homes.
A statement from the Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL) on Friday read: “The DFL has fined Manuel Akanji and Jadon Sancho.
"The players from Borussia Dortmund had obviously violated general hygiene and infection protection standards at home hairdressing appointments and in particular the medical-organisational concept of the DFL task force.
“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.”
Dortmund director Michael Zorc remained coy when asked about Sancho and the subject of him travelling back to England without club permission during lockdown.
He told reporters: “To our knowledge Jadon has been in Dortmund for weeks.
"I even read that we have put him into a two-week long quarantine and faked an injury. I can only say that is completely wrong.
"Jadon has had a calf injury for weeks, which is why he could not participate in training."
On what he said to Sancho regarding the haircut, Zorc added: "We have spoken to both the hairdresser and the player.
"Both have ensured us that the measures of hygiene have been respected at all times. They even wore a protection shield and gloves, which were only taken off for the picture.
"Obviously this is not right. We have made that clear once again to the players.
"In this special situation that we are all in due to Covid-19 it is not just the duty of the coaches to keep an eye on discipline. The whole club needs to do that, this includes the board.
"We have spoken to the players in the past. Also with Jadon. We must not forget Jadon is still a very young player, testing his boundaries. I don't think I'm accused of protecting him all the time, as I have sanctioned him when there have been misconducts from his side."
Nevertheless, Sancho was clearly unimpressed with the decision, tweeting: "Absolute Joke DFL!"
The England international's post was met by numbers of Chelsea and Manchester United supporters replying with messages to urge the forward to join their respective clubs this summer.
One posted: "Leave Germany and join the Chelsea revolution," whilst another wrote: "Come to @ManUtd!"
Both Chelsea and Manchester United are thought to be interested in a summer move for Sancho, although the winger's expected asking price of north of £100million is likely to prove prohibitive in the current climate.
football.london understands that once Chelsea seal a deal for Timo Werner, their attention will turn to strengthening at left back, where Leicester City's Ben Chilwell is the number one target.
Manchester United remain keen on Sancho despite their hierarchy already warning against a very different transfer window but it is unclear if any team are willing to pay £120million for one player at a time of such financial uncertainty.
