Romanian club FCSB have denied reports their owner banned players who've been vaccinated against Covid from representing the team.
George "Gigi" Becali was alleged to have claimed vaccinated footballers should no longer play for FCSB because they're now "powerless" compared to those who refuse the jab.
"You're going to laugh, but I might be right," said Becali, as quoted by the Daily Mail. "Those vaccinated lose their strength. That's something scientific."
Becali allegedly went on to cite the form of rivals Rapid Bucharest - who are currently eighth in the Romanian top-flight - and CFR Cluj's captain Ciprian Deac.
FCSB are second in the table, eight points behind leaders and defending champions Cluj.
"Haven't you seen it at CFR?" asked Becali. "With Rapid, the players seemed to be fainting. They slept on the ground. All vaccinated people lose their strength!
"I also see mine, the vaccinated ones. It doesn't affect some, but it does affect those who are older. Haven't you seen Deac? There is no more storm."
These reports have since been denied by FCSB, who've confirmed they will not drop players who've received a Covid vaccination.
The Romanian club have also confirmed several players have already received the jab and their owner was joking.
"It is not true that vaccinated players will not play," FCSB's spokesperson told Reuters. "There are more than a dozen vaccinated players in our squad."
Nevertheless, Romania's government have reassured the public of the vaccine's safety and insists it doesn't have a negative impact on the performance of footballers.
"Vaccinated footballers do NOT lose their strength after being vaccinated against Covid," read a statement from the Romanian government on Facebook.
"From a medical and scientific point of view, there are no studies that would support a singularity like the one recently promoted on Facebook accounts in Romania.
"Vaccination against Covid does not affect the performance of football players.
"In contrast, there are enough studies showing that going through SARS CoV-2 infection leaves long-term sequelae [Long Covid], and these can influence athletes' performance.
"The bottom line is simple: to stay healthy, to enjoy football, to look at those who trust science and medicine. Please inform yourself only from credible, official sources!"
According to Google's most recent data, only 41.6 per cent of Romania's population has been fully vaccinated against Covid. This is below the global average of 55.8 per cent.
Becali has been a shareholder of FCSB since the late nineties and his administrative career in football is littered with controversies.
The ex-politician was a Member of European Parliament (MEP) between 2009 and 2012 and a Member of the Romanian Parliament between 2012 and 2013.
Becali has previously been accused of racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism - insisting FCSB would never have a women's team in 2018.
"How can a woman play football?" said Becali. "She isn't built for playing football. Her body isn't made for football. It's dangerous.
"The female was created to be beautiful, to attract the opposite sex. We are affecting women by letting them play football or by allowing them to box.
"They should play handball, volleyball, basketball, but not aggressive sports."
