Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp likened refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine to drink-driving, saying such people endanger others.
Klopp said he took the vaccine to protect not just himself but “all the people around me.” The 54-year-old also said that “99%” of his Liverpool players are vaccinated and that he did not have to convince anyone to do so.
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British media reported last week that only seven of the 20 Premier League clubs have squads where more than 50% of players are vaccinated.
“If I say I am vaccinated, other people say: ‘How can you tell me I should be vaccinated?’ It is a little bit like drink-driving,” Klopp said ahead of Sunday’s home game with Manchester City.
“We all probably were in a situation where we had a beer or two and thought we still could drive but [because of] the law, we are not allowed to drive so we don’t drive.
“But this law is not there for protecting me when I drink two beers and want to drive, it’s for protecting all the other people because I’m drunk and we accept that as a law.”
Klopp said vaccination is not a limit on freedom.
“I don’t understand why that is a limitation of freedom because, if it is, then not being allowed to drink and drive is a limitation of freedom as well,” he said.
“I got the vaccination because I was concerned about myself but even more so about everybody around me. If I get [COVID-19] and I suffer from it: my fault. If I get it and spread it to someone else: my fault and not their fault.”