Borussia Dortmund avoid Baku showers amid reported Legionella fears

Borussia Dortmund players left the Baku Olympic Stadium still covered in sweat after refusing to use its showers following their 2-1 win over Azerbaijani champions FK Sabah in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The victory was Dortmund’s second in the competition this season, but their decision not to shower at the stadium drew attention after the German side departed shortly after the final whistle.

Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac said the players had also avoided showering after training the previous day and were heading directly back to their hotel.

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

The reason for the instruction was not initially clear, according to German magazine Der Spiegel, nor was it known who had issued it.

Dortmund sporting director Uli Bock offered a more light-hearted explanation when questioned in the media area, saying: “I think the showers at the hotel were a little more appealing, so we are making sure the players get there quickly.”

Bock did not clarify his comments about the stadium facilities, adding: “One can imagine the situation to some extent.” He described them as “not entirely elegant”.

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

No other media reports about the matter were cited, and neither Borussia Dortmund nor FK Sabah has confirmed the claim.

Der Spiegel explained that Legionella bacteria can occur in pipes where water does not flow regularly. During showering, the bacteria can enter the respiratory system through tiny droplets dispersed into the air and cause illness.

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

Dortmund’s players therefore returned to their hotel without using the stadium’s shower facilities, despite having completed a demanding away match in Baku. The club’s 2-1 victory over FK Sabah remains the confirmed sporting outcome of the evening, while the reported water-safety concern has not been officially explained by either club.